Association of Mental Health Providers

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MHPF response to Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health

Earlier this year, MHPF welcomed the publication of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health by the Mental Health Taskforce, which set out the priorities for Government and the NHS to improve mental health care and support.

Today, MHPF is pleased to see the publication of the accompanying plan for implementation, which lays out a roadmap for delivering the commitments made in the earlier Report to people who use services and the public. The major transformation programme for mental health care, as set out in the implementation plan, will improve services which will benefit thousands of children and adults with conditions such as psychosis, depression and anxiety.

The plan details how new funding will be made available, how the workforce requirements will be delivered in each priority area and how transparency will be supported. It outlines four areas which will see immediate action in response to the recommendations made:

  •  Investment of £72 million over two years to better integrate physical and mental health services
  • A new pilot with investment of £1.8 million initially directed at six pilot sites testing new approaches to delivering mental health care
  • Clear plans for how £365 million allocated for specialist perinatal mental health services over the next five years will help 30,000 more women per year
  • A £12 million roll-out over the next two years of Liaison and Diversion services, for people who may have mental health needs and find themselves in the court system or police services

MHPF believes implementing the commitments of the plan and improving mental health and wellbeing cannot solely be achieved by the NHS, but must be delivered in partnership with the voluntary and community sector. The VCSE sector is crucial both nationally and locally through its design and delivery of services, invaluable expertise, and understanding of community needs to shape services.

We look forward to working with our partners and members in supporting the implementation of the plan, and ensuring an additional one million people receive high-quality care by 2020/21 – a step towards closing the treatment gap for mental health.