The Conservative Party have launched their manifesto for the 2019 General Election. A series of commitments on mental health include:

• Treating mental health with the same urgency as physical health.

• Legislating so that patients suffering from mental health conditions, including anxiety or depression, have greater control over their treatment and receive the dignity and respect they deserve 

• Providing further funding to support mental health nurses where the NHS is currently struggling to recruit

Responding to the manifesto, Vicki Nash, head of Policy and Campaigns at Mind, said:

"At Mind we hear day in day out from people who have faced disgraceful treatment under the Mental Health Act. We are therefore encouraged that the Conservatives are committing to bringing forward legislation to give people with mental health problems dignity, respect and greater control over their treatment.

“The manifesto pledges to treat mental health with the same importance as physical health, something we have long been calling for. And we are also pleased to see a commitment to reduce the number of reassessments a disabled person with a long term condition must go through to receive benefits.

"Brexit has taken centre stage for two years while urgent problems have been ignored. We cannot wait any longer for meaningful change for those of us with mental health problems.

"That is why we are calling on all candidates to promise they will deliver six key priorities: fixing NHS services, overhauling the Mental Health Act and Welfare Act, protecting people in the workplace, addressing the crisis among young people and putting mental health at the heart of all policy areas.

"We won't stop until mental health gets the attention it deserves on the political agenda. We will keep up the pressure on politicians to prioritise mental health regardless of who comes into power."

• Parliament