Jessica O'ConnorThe Government has announced a major boost to mental health services with more than 6,700 new mental health workers recruited since July last year, marking a significant step towards its target of 8,500 additional staff by the end of the current Parliament.
This employment milestone is part of a broader strategy to improve access to mental health support and help people return to work, school, and daily life.
The recruitment drive supports upcoming reforms set to be outlined in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which aims to revolutionise mental health care through both workforce expansion and digital innovation.
The plan seeks to ease access to support by allowing patients to self-refer for talking therapies directly through the NHS App, removing the need for a GP appointment.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasised the life-changing impact of mental health support.
He said: “Not getting the right support for your mental health isn’t just debilitating, it can hit a painful pause button on your life – stopping you working, enjoying time with family and friends, or living day-to-day life.
“Patients have faced the crisis of access to mental health services for far too long, and this government is determined to change that through our Plan for Change to rebuild the NHS.”
Streeting also highlighted the role of technology in delivering 24-hour care, describing the NHS App as a free and accessible alternative to costly private apps.
He added: “That’s why we’re putting digital front doors on mental health services for patients up and down the country and harnessing technology to provide 24-hour care.
“And we’re creating more opportunities for support not just through the NHS App but through care in your community too.”
As part of the investment in community-based care, 85 new dedicated mental health emergency departments will be built using £120m secured in the latest Spending Review.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, said: “Too often, people with mental health conditions are left without the support they need to return to work – not because they lack the will, but because the system doesn’t work for them. We’re determined to change that.
“By improving access to mental health services and ensuring employment support is better tailored to individual needs, we will transform people’s lives – helping them get back to health and back to work, which is good for them, good for the country and good for the economy.”
