Recommendation 18

Dame Carol, Sir Ian, Ms Taylor and Ms Wiseman all raised concerns about the relationship between mental ill health and alcohol. Sir Ian told us that an estimated 70% of people entering treatment for alcohol dependency have co-occurring mental health problems.42 The relationship between substance misuse and mental ill health is well- established yet, as Dame Carol pointed out in her report, too many people are denied access to mental health services because of their alcohol dependency (and vice versa). The Department agreed it was an incredibly difficult issue and told us it was working with NHS England on a national action plan for drug, alcohol and mental health to try to move things forward.43