Protect the future of NHS staff mental health and wellbeing services
We're calling for investment in vital mental health and wellbeing support for NHS and social care staff
About the campaign
Government funding for the NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hubs in England ended on 31 March 2023.
We've been campaigning for the hubs to receive the government funding they need to continue to be a vital lifeline for thousands of NHS and social care staff struggling with their mental health.
For many, the hubs' support has enabled them to continue their important work for patients, and to work safely in their challenging jobs. The campaign has made a difference.
However, the government has now placed responsibility for the future of staff mental health and wellbeing services - including the remaining NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs - with local integrated care systems.
With strong links between staff wellbeing and patient safety, and staff recruitment and retention, it's crucial the government and local integrated care systems invest in the mental health of their workforce.
Our calls to action
- Integrated Care Systems must commit to long-term ring-fenced funding for dedicated psychologically-led mental health support for health and care staff, including through the remaining NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs.
- The government must invest in long-term ring-fenced funding for dedicated, psychologically-led mental health support for health and care staff, to complement local investment.
Hear from the hubs
Hub leads and services users explain in why it's so important that the hubs' work continues and why the mental health of NHS staff should be prioritised.
- "We need to be cared for too"NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hub leads explain in their own words why it's so vital that the hubs' work continues.
- "The hub created a safe space for me to talk"Jane, a highly experienced care home manager, shares how her local NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hub supported her to stay in her role.
- "It will be devastating to lose the hubs"A senior nurse shares her experience of receiving support from her local NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hub.
- 'We do more than put out fires'Chartered psychologist and NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing hub lead Joanne Jordan explains how the NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing hubs respond to emergencies and model meaningful prevention.
- The collapse of wellbeing hubs for NHS staff would be calamitousWith the future of NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hubs in limbo, a BPS chartered psychologist shares first-hand insight into the critical role of the hubs and why it’s vital the government continues to invest in them.
- "We fall through so many gaps..."Ruth, an NHS mental health social worker, describes how she was supported by an NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub after she fell through the net of NHS services.
Restore investment in mental health support for NHS and social care staff, say leading organisations
- BPS welcomes culture review of ambulance trusts
- BPS calls for urgent government investment in NHS staff mental health support in response to shocking NHS Staff Survey results
- ‘Breathtaking’ highlights vital need for staff mental health support
- NHS spending on temporary staff highlights need for investment into staff wellbeing services
- BPS partners with Health Service Journal on webinar exploring vital need for staff mental health provision
- BPS urges investment in NHS and social care staff wellbeing provision to safeguard future of health and care services
- BPS responds to new figures showing 98 per cent rise in reported suicidal thoughts among nurses
- BPS responds to chancellor's Autumn Statement
- BPS calls on government to prioritise investment in mental health support for health and care staff in Autumn Statement
- Campaign update: Protect the future of NHS staff mental health and wellbeing services
- BPS welcomes new report highlighting evidence-based mental health and wellbeing interventions for NHS staff
- BPS and BASW England join forces to highlight need for mental health support for social care staff
- Access to mental health and wellbeing support for NHS and social care staff has become 'postcode lottery', warns BPS
- One third of social care workforce sickness absence due to mental health and stress, troubling new figures reveal
- Government is paying lip service to NHS staff wellbeing with ‘insulting’ £2.3m funding for mental health hubs
- BPS and partners urge government and NHS England to reconsider staff wellbeing funding
- BPS response to NHS Workforce Plan
- Adam Kay: Withdrawing mental health support for NHS staff 'seems senseless and cruel'
- MPs lend their support to #FundNHSHubs campaign
- Government inaction on wellbeing hubs leaves healthcare staff without access to mental health support
- Alastair Campbell supports #FundNHSHubs campaign
- Stephen Fry urges the government to protect NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hubs
- Shocking NHS staff sickness statistics highlight urgent need for mental health support hubs
- BPS response to Spring Budget 2023
- Dr Hilary Jones backs calls to save mental and wellbeing health hubs
- Time is running out for government funding decision as NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hubs are forced to close
- BPS and ACP-UK warn government over ‘clinically dangerous’ indecision over funding for mental health support for NHS and social care staff
- BPS response to Spring Budget 2023
- BPS welcomes £150m investment in mental health services, but highlights cost to NHS staff
- BPS urges government to prioritise funding of early intervention and prevention mental health services in Spring Budget
- BPS and ACP-UK join forces to protect funding of mental health and wellbeing lifeline for NHS staff
Media coverage
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Health Service Journal: Staff mental health support faces axe after national funding cut.
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The Independent: Suicidal NHS staff lose mental health support in ‘irresponsible’ cuts.
Professor Tony Lavender, workforce and training lead for clinical psychology at BPS, told The Independent: “It is almost unbelievable to withdraw a service that’s about improving and helping the well-being of staff for which there’s evidence for effectiveness.” -
The Mirror: Scrapping mental health funding for overworked NHS staff is 'reckless', Tories told.
"There are NHS staff who are literally suicidal at the moment, because of the stresses they've gone through, and they're losing hub support," said Professor Mike Wang, chair of the ACP in The Mirror. -
BBC Radio 4 Today programme
Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the British Psychological Society and Jane Borland, a care home manager who was supported by her local hub, spoke to Martha Kearney on Saturday 20 May about why the hubs are so vital.
Digital wall
Lend your support to the campaign by posting a message on our digital wall. Just select the 'create post' icon in the top right of the digital wall and post your message.