A new network of community mental health clinics has been announced in England, with a focus on early intervention. The initiative aims to allow people to access treatment earlier, potentially before their mental health reaches a crisis point, and to improve access by reaching people in their communities.
The government is encouraged to ensure that individuals with lived experience of mental health problems are meaningfully involved in the co-design and co-leadership of these new centres. New evidence-based mental health treatments also need to be rigorously evaluated, adopted, and made available across the NHS.
However, concerns have been expressed regarding planned cuts to mental health jobs and services in some NHS trusts. One trust reportedly plans £25m in cuts, and other mental health trusts are also expected to make savings. This situation is seen by some as a contrast to the expansion of community mental health support.
Despite successive governments stating that mental health should have the same priority as physical health, psychiatric services have reportedly faced ongoing cuts to funding, services, and beds.