Why mental health needs to be a key consideration at the General Election

Dr Sarah Hughes  18/06/2024

I’m deeply frustrated about the lack of prominence mental health has had in the election campaign to this point. We know that this is the cost-of-living and NHS election, neither of which can be fixed without fixing mental health, we can’t afford to deprioritise any further.

There are nearly two million people in England on the waiting list for NHS mental health services. Since 2017 the number of young people struggling with their mental health has nearly doubled and the number of people sectioned under the Mental Health Act has reached a five-year high.

Two in five mental health providers across the country were rated as ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ for safety by the CQC this year. And almost one in five mental health nursing posts are vacant, contributing to an over-use of restrictive practices, including restraint, seclusion, and segregation.

Poverty is also growing at its fastest rate in 30 years, and we know people with mental health problems are more likely to struggle financially, and people struggling financially are more likely to become mentally unwell. Despite this the current benefits system can often feel like it’s working against individuals, and too many are unnecessarily falling out of employment due to a lack of support in the workplace.

We have also yet to truly understand the psychological impacts of the pandemic and the legacy of the safety measures, homeschooling, grief, workforce trauma and long covid.

This is a lot to take in, we know, but I take comfort from the fact the public instinctively understands this issue in a way politicians don’t seem to yet. When we asked the public what they thought was driving the rising numbers of people with mental health problems, they overwhelmingly said the cost-of-living crisis, followed by the state of NHS services and the pandemic.

I also take comfort that despite mental health not having ‘a moment’ in this campaign yet, the manifestos have, in places, made for positive reading.  

There’s been a near universal backing of early support mental hubs for young people. These hubs will provide a place for young people to get help before they’re in crisis. The earlier a young person can get support for their mental health the more effective it’s likely to be.

There is a broad recognition and commitment, to differing degrees, of the need to reform the Mental Health Act. This is long overdue - the process for updating this legislation began six years ago.

Chief among the problems with the Act right now are that people don’t have enough say in their treatment. There are shocking disparities in the way the legislation is applied - if you’re Black, you’re three times more likely to be detained under the Act and eight times more likely to be subject to community treatment orders.

A reformed Mental Health Act will strengthen people’s rights and give them more choice and control when they’re in a mental health hospital, this will help to challenge some of the deep inequalities that currently exist.

The parties are not the only ones setting out their plans. The next UK government has to take action on the mental health crisis and today, Mind has set out the five first steps they should take. These are:

• Raise the standard of mental health hospitals
• Reform the outdated Mental Health Act
• Fund a network of early support hubs for young people.
• Fix benefits assessments for disabled people
• Support people with mental health problems to thrive at work

We’ve set out the clear evidence-based solutions the next government should take to shift the dial on the nation’s mental health. But crucially, this will need a truly cross-government approach. There is so much more to do but we must focus on the things first we believe could have the biggest positive impact quickly.

Mental health affects many different aspects of our lives, from our need for treatment to our work and finances. Government departments, civil society and those with lived experience all need to be involved in developing and delivering a new mission for mental health. This is what we need to see the next Government commit to on Day 1.

Through our national services and network of local Minds, we speak to 428,928 people every year about their mental health problems and what is happening in their lives. As such, we have unprecedented insight and knowledge into the issues people face and are committed to being part of the solution.

That insight has shaped our first steps for the next government, and we stand ready to work with them to deliver them. Together, we can make sure there’s no mind left behind.