The NHS Alliance has welcomed the UK government’s call for evidence to help shape a new cross-government mental health strategy for England.
Rebecca Gray, Director of The NHS Alliance’s Mental Health Network, said “The strategy recognises the close connection between mental health, wider social factors, and public services, while also creating an opportunity to establish clearer expectations for the NHS.”
Gray highlighted the NHS’s role in ensuring children, young people, and adults can access high-quality mental health support within their communities. She also stressed the importance of focusing on earlier intervention and prevention rather than crisis response.
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“This is a great opportunity to consider all aspects of mental health, from support for parents and young children, to how schools and workplaces adapt to neurodiversity, and to providing the very best care for those with the most severe mental illness,” Gray said.
The statement also pointed to ongoing improvements across mental health services, including efforts to reduce waiting times for child and adolescent mental health support, implement new technologies and genomics, and expand mental health emergency departments and community mental health centres.
The NHS Alliance added that delivering long-term change will require strong collaboration across public services, the NHS, and voluntary and independent sector organisations.
