Mental health initiatives published

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Published: 7 Dec 2009

A cross-governmental strategy in England into how mental health and well-being can be incorporated into every aspect of daily life was launched today to replace the National Service Framework for Mental Health which came to an end this autumn.

The latest strategy sets out the vision for mental health and well-being provision to improve services and help prevent people developing mental illness.

DH Consultation: New Horizons: towards a shared vision for mental health - consultation

The UK government, led by the Department for Work and Pensions and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales also today set out its vision and support to help wellbeing at work for everyone and deliver better employment results for people with mental health conditions through the following publications:

Working Our Way to Better Mental Health: A Framework for Action is the first GB wide Mental Health and Employment Strategy. This practical framework for action sets out commitments from government and expectations of employers, healthcare professionals, organisations and individuals.

Realising Ambitions: Better Employment Support for People with a Mental Health Condition is a review commissioned by DWP. The review offers recommendations for improving employment, health and wider support for people with mental health conditions.

In addition the government is launching Work, Recovery and Inclusion a cross-government delivery plan for England to support people in contact with secondary mental health services into work. It sets out a long term vision to radically increase the number of people from this group in employment by 2025, and to narrow the gap between their employment rate and that of disabled people generally.

DWP reports 

Chief health professions officer Karen Middleton is due to launch the CSP’s national mental health strategy 'Recovering mind and body' on 14 December.

CSP head of public affairs and policy development Gary Robjent said: ‘Mental ill-health is the most common reason for claiming health-related benefits and costs the economy between £30bn and £40bn in lost production, sick pay and NHS treatment, as well as the personal and financial costs that result from being out of work.

'The human, social and economic cost of mental illness is immense. One in six people has a mental health problem and it is the second most common cause of death in men aged 14 to 44.'