Mental health: the first 100 days of the Conservative government

100 days have passed since the Conservative government took office, with Chancellor George Osborne making the most significant announcements in the Budget and the Spending Review. The various announcements made since 8th May have amounted to mixed news for mental health.

Given the prominence of health during the pre-election debates, it’s promising that the government honoured their commitment to investing in our health by committing to increase NHS funding in England by £10 billion over the next 5 years. However, it is vital that the final Spending Review – to be published next month – includes a specific pledge to invest in mental health prevention and services, and that at least £1.25 billion over the next Parliament is exclusively targeted to children and new mothers’ mental health.

We are looking forward to seeing what support is going to be given to people with disabilities, and those living with mental health problems, to return to appropriate work that supports their wellbeing. However, there are major concerns amongst the voluntary sector that reduced financial support available to them could make it even more difficult to return to work: those in the work-related activity group of the Employment and Support Allowance will receive £1,500 less per year.

Instead of concentrating on reducing financial support, it is important for the government to focus on reducing discrimination and stigma in the workplace and on implementing bespoke voluntary programmes to support people to access and retain in work that is good for their mental health. At the same time, better support for employers is needed, so they feel more confident about employing a more diverse workforce.

Away from funding, it has been promising to see the Home Office’s commitment to protect the most vulnerable people by launching an independent review of deaths in police custody (there were 17 in 2014/15 – a five-year high).

We also welcome the Home Office’s pledge to reduce the number of people with mental health problems who are locked up in police cells as places of safety. Between 2013 and 2014, a total of 23,036 people were detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, with 6,028 of these in the often inappropriate and unhelpful surroundings of a police cell. We hope that these changes will lead to new funding to ensure the opening of ‘safe places’ around the country, so people can access the support they need to improve their health.

The announcement of the learning disability Transforming Care programme in early June, which will see five ‘fast-track’ sites established and given additional support for services for people with learning disability, was also a positive step by the new government, as learning disability is a much neglected area within policy and spending. However, more investment will be needed to see real change.

The replacement of the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights was discussed at length in the run up to the election. However, we are still waiting to hear about the proposals for a British Bill of Rights. We are hopeful that full consultations on any proposed changes will take place across sectors, as the Act in its current state has brought positive changes for people living with mental health problems, from improved safeguards for people detained under the Mental Health Act to more dignified treatment.

The way forward

Looking ahead, it is imperative that the new government fully recognises that good mental health is not only an asset in itself, but it also enables us to further our careers, look after our families, pursue our other interests, and participate fully in society. Good mental health also helps to reduce pressure on NHS services, on which the unprecedented scale of demand has been well documented.

A forward-thinking approach to mental health is needed: one that recognises that all public policies can positively or negatively affect people’s wellbeing – from housing, to education, to welfare. Without this, true equity will not be possible.

Recent blogs by Marguerite Regan

• No Health Without Mental Health: The First 100 Days and Beyond - 29 May 2015