Government urged to ‘join the dots’ between lack of investment in public services and growing mental health challenges
The BPS is urging the government to ‘join the dots’ between the lack of investment in public services and the social security system, and the soaring numbers of people struggling with mental health challenges.
05 March 2024
Share this page
The call comes ahead of the spring budget, with the BPS warning that without substantive investment into the NHS, children's and family services and the social security system, people will continue to get poorer, sicker and suffer more mental health challenges than ever before.
Analysis of NHS Digital data shows a 13 per cent increase in the number of people in contact with mental health services at the end of December 2023, compared to the end of December 2022*, highlighting the urgent need for investment in services and workforce.
Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the BPS, said:
“The connections between poverty, cash-strapped public services and the growing number of people facing mental health challenges are undeniable. We urge the government to join the dots and realise that underfunding crucial public services, stores up problems for people, families and children in years to come."
The BPS has highlighted four key areas in which the government needs to invest to turnaround the fortunes and mental and physical health of so many of the population:
- a national roll out of the Early Intervention Hubs with an Educational Psychologist attached to each;
- significant investment into the mental health workforce to meet commitments in the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan and to tackle soaring waiting lists;
- protected, recurring funding for NHS staff mental health and wellbeing services
- committing to the Essentials Guarantee, a legal minimum in Universal Credit so people can afford the essentials.
“There is clear evidence that we are currently experiencing a perfect storm of factors which are having a hugely negative effect on people’s quality of life and life chances. We are incredibly concerned that without significant investment in crucial areas, we risk seeing more and more people become poorer and suffering with more mental and physical health problems. By focusing on these four hugely important areas, and providing the necessary funding, we can begin to tackle the huge problems facing our society – such as soaring waiting lists for treatment and support, a staffing crisis in the NHS, increasing numbers of our children and young people experiencing mental health challenges, and the millions of people living in poverty and unable to afford the essentials.”
*1.87 million people were in contact with mental health services at the end of December 2023, this is compared to 1.65 million at the end of December 2022 – a 13 per cent increase.