BPS urges government to prioritise funding of early intervention and prevention mental health services in Spring Budget
Prevention is key to alleviating financial pressures on the health service and saving individuals from unnecessarily reaching a point of mental health crisis.
06 February 2023
We're urging the government to invest in prevention and early intervention services for mental health in our Spring Budget submission, published today.
The society has recommended:
- Funding for early intervention hubs for children and young people
- Additional funding for local authorities to employ and train enough educational psychologists (EP) for every school in the country
- More funding for community based services and adult social care for autistic people, and people with learning difficulties
- Additional spending for the expansion of the family hubs across the country
- Changes to Universal Credit so that the basic rate of support can never be so low that people are unable to afford essentials such as food, utility bills and basic household goods.
- Ring-fenced funding for the NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs
- A comprehensive mental health workforce strategy
Sarb Bajwa, chief executive of the BPS, said:
Prevention is key to alleviating financial pressures on the health service and saving individuals from unnecessarily reaching a point of mental health crisis.
It is vital that people struggling with their mental health receive the right support, at the right time.
By investing in mental health services for children, young people and adults in their local communities and schools, and supporting them from the outset, we can not only help prevent their mental health problems from escalating, but reduce pressure on services for people in crisis.
With the NHS workforce in crisis, the BPS is also calling on the government to provide vital ring-fenced funding for NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs, and has highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive workforce strategy.
If patients are to receive the NHS services that they really deserve, it's essential that this prevention and early intervention approach is also extended to the mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff.
The Treasury must make the mental health of NHS staff its priority, and provide ring-fenced funding for the NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs.