Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted
Mental health improvement programmes underinvest in prevention and early intervention, risking long-term sustainability.
Conclusion
The improvement programme led by NHSE focuses on the expansion of treatment for people who have already developed mental ill health, with limited investment in areas relating to prevention and early intervention such as mental health support teams in schools.48 Stakeholders highlighted to us the importance of wider social and economic factors such as housing and employment on good mental health. They felt that the current service model is not sustainable without prioritising public health approaches; including preventive measures to stop people from developing mental illness in the first place or early interventions to reduce the need for more intensive treatments.49
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and, as part of its Major Conditions Strategy, commits to implementing a new mental health and wellbeing impact assessment tool, outlining support for employers, and increasing mental health support teams in schools. A final report with workforce considerations will be published in early 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: by spring 2024 6.2 The Major Conditions Strategy: case for change and our strategic framework was published on 14 August. This sets out the Department for Health and Social Care’s strategic approach to improving care for people living with six groups of conditions. As part of this, the department recognises the importance of mental ill-health as a major condition, as well as the importance of prevention, ensuring physical health needs of people with mental ill-health are addressed, and ensuring that mental health is included as a core part of how the other major conditions are treated. 6.3 To support this work, the department has set out multiple policies that can help to support mental health and wellbeing. These include the implementation of a new mental health and wellbeing impact assessment tool to support policy makers across government in considering and addressing the impacts of any new policies on mental health and wellbeing; outlining government’s role in supporting employers to improve the support they provide for the mental and physical health of themselves and their employees; and increasing the number of schools and colleges with an embedded mental health support team. 6.4 The final report will be published in early 2024 and will include consideration of how the right workforce may be secured. DHSC is working closely with NHS England, as part of the implementation of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which included a commitment to grow the proportion of NHS staff working in mental health, primary and community care.