Mind response to King's Fund briefing on mental health services

Report finds huge pressures on NHS mental health services and calls for more funding.

The King's Fund has published a briefing that looks at current pressures on NHS mental health services.

In response, Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said:
“This report lifts the lid on the true state of NHS mental health services. The Government has expressed its commitment to putting mental health on an equal footing with physical health but it’s clear that there is an enormous gulf between that aspiration and the day-to-day reality for many.

“We hear every day from people with mental health problems who tell us that support is getting harder and harder to access as services shrink while demand escalates. Poor mental health can ruin lives, destroy relationships, take away people’s independence and can lead to some taking their own lives. But with the right support at the right time, people can and do recover or manage their mental health in a way that allows them to lead the life they choose.

“If people don’t get the help they need, when they need it, they are likely to become more unwell and need more intensive – and expensive – support further down the line. Failing to deliver the right care isn’t good for people and it’s not good for the NHS. We echo the King’s Fund’s call for more funding for NHS mental health services; after decades of neglect and five years of cuts, services are in urgent need of significant investment.”