New Programme launched to improve Mental Health care services,
Population Mental Health and Well-being
A cross government programme of action has been launched to improve
the mental well-being of people in England and drive up the quality of
mental health care. "New Horizons: A shared vision for mental health" is a
comprehensive initiative that will be delivered by ten national
government departments. It also brings together an alliance of local government, the
voluntary sector and professionals, as well as local communities and
individuals to work towards a society that values mental well-being as
much as physical health.
New Horizons covers a lifetime - from
laying down the foundations of good mental health in childhood, through
to maintaining mental well-being into older age. It also emphasises the
importance of prevention through to effective treatment and recovery. New
Horizons also outlines the benefits of reducing the burden of mental
illness and unlocking the benefits of well-being in terms of physical
health, educational attainment, employment and reduced crime.
The document has been launched along side plans to support people with mental health problems back into employment.
Work,
Recovery and Inclusion: is a cross-government delivery plan for England
to support people in contact with secondary mental health services into
work. It forms part of the Government response to the Perkins Review,
an independent review of how we can strengthen employment, health and
wider state support to help people with mental conditions on out of
work benefits.
Working our way to better mental health: is a
cross government framework designed to improve well-being at work for
everyone, and deliver significantly better employment results for
people with mental health conditions, supporting them into work,
helping them to stay in work and assisting them to return to work more
quickly after sickness absences.
To find out more visit: www.dh.gov.uk/newhorizons.
Follow this link to download the full New Horizons document.
Ian McPherson, Director of the National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU)
We should all welcome today's publication of the New Horizons strategy with its shared vision for mental health, together with the publications on employment and mental health. New Horizons is an immensely important step forward that recognises the need to address the mental well-being of the whole population, as well as ensure the continued improvement of service delivery and support for recovery for those with mental health problems.For mental health policy and practice, what is also encouraging is the emphasis on cross-government action, in recognition that the responsibility for mental health and well-being goes far wider than the NHS and social care. New Horizons has received support from across the mental health community, including leaders in the NHS, local authorities and the third sector. You can read just some of these voices in this briefing. Our role at the NMHDU will be to work with these different stakeholders to ensure we take a joined up approach to putting policy into practice and practice into policy.