We need to talk

The case for psychological therapy on the NHS

A report from the Mental Health Foundation, Mind, Rethink, The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and Young Minds

Psychological therapies are known to be effective for treating a wide range of mental health conditions. These include depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. The most widely accepted psychological treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Availability of CBT and other evidence-based therapies on the NHS is extremely limited. Waiting times of more than a year are commonplace. This forces GPs to give, for example, antidepressant medications for depression when they think CBT would be preferable. While some people pay for private treatment, others cannot and go without.

Read the report (PDF)

Published October 2006