Two decades ago, mental health was barely mentioned in party manifestos. Today, all major UK parties and the Greens have dedicated substantial space to mental health policies, reflecting its growing importance amid deteriorating national mental health due to recent crises.
Mental Health Act Reform:
There is a consensus among the major parties to reform the outdated Mental Health Act, which currently disproportionately impacts racialized communities. The Labour Party has committed to a trans-inclusive ban on LGBT conversion therapy, a move we urge other parties to adopt.
Young People’s Mental Health:
All parties have pledged to ensure schools and colleges have in-house mental health professionals and to create early support mental health hubs. These initiatives aim to address mental health issues that often emerge by age 24. However, a clear commitment to infant mental health is lacking. The Conservatives have proposed expanding Family Hubs nationwide, which could support mental health throughout life. Yet, neither Labour nor the Conservatives have committed to ending the two-child limit for Child Benefit, which contributes to family hardship.
Adult Mental Health Services:
Parties promise various improvements for adult mental health services. The Conservatives plan to expand NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support services. Labour aims to increase the mental health workforce by 8,500 within five years. The Liberal Democrats focus on perinatal mental health services and ending out-of-area mental health placements. However, none have committed to the necessary funding or comprehensive reduction in waiting times, risking further delays in meeting mental health needs.
Public Health Funding:
The Liberal Democrats and Greens pledge to restore public health grants to local authorities to 2015 levels, equating to over £1 billion additional funds for public mental health activities. The significant cuts to public health grants since 2015 have undermined preventative measures, exacerbating the demand on treatment services.
Mental Health Governance:
The Liberal Democrats propose establishing an independent Mental Health Commissioner, which could centralize mental health within government policymaking. This aligns with our advocacy for a cross-government mental health policy test.
Addressing Drivers of Poor Mental Health:
Labour’s child poverty strategy, renters’ reform, and a Race Equality Act could address key social determinants of mental health if implemented effectively. Labour’s plans to improve employment support for disabled people and reform harmful benefit assessments are welcome, though it’s disappointing they haven’t committed to ending benefit sanctions for disabled people. Conversely, the Conservatives’ plans to restrict disability benefits and increase sanctions could worsen mental health outcomes.
Social Care:
None of the parties have detailed plans for social care reform, which is crucial for the mental health system. Social services require urgent funding and a long-term settlement.
Immigration, Prisons, and Environment:
Labour’s manifesto lacks detail on asylum system reforms, while the Conservatives’ policies could exacerbate trauma for refugees. Both major parties’ plans to build more prisons, instead of investing in community sentencing, miss an opportunity to improve mental health outcomes within the justice system. The Liberal Democrats have proposed rehabilitation-focused policies but lack detail on funding.
Environmental factors, crucial for mental health, are addressed by most parties, but Conservative plans to reverse initiatives like London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone could hinder progress.
Conclusion:
The manifestos reflect a significant shift towards prioritizing mental health, with various commitments to improving services and addressing underlying social determinants. However, gaps in funding commitments and detailed plans for social care and immigration reforms remain areas of concern. The next government must ensure these pledges translate into effective actions to meet the growing mental health needs of the population.
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