14th April 2009

Department of Health announces a new strategy for mental health and wellbeing

Those who suffer from or might face mental illness at some point in their lives will be the focus of a new strategy, Care Services Minister Phil Hope announced today.

“New Horizons” is a new strategy that aims to promote good mental health and well-being, whilst improving services for people who have mental health problems. It will build on the National Service Framework for mental health – widely acknowledged as the catalyst for a transformation in mental health care over the last ten years – which comes to an end in 2009.

A series of New Horizons ‘listening events * starts this month hosted by Phil Hope and Louis Appleby, National Director for Mental Health. They will seek views on what the new Strategy should cover from a wide range of people. The Strategy is expected later this year.

New Horizons recognises that:

Around one in four people will suffer from a form of mental illness at some point in their lives.
One sixth of the population suffers from a common mental health problem at any time.
1 in 100 people suffers from a serious mental illness such as psychosis.
More than 1.3 million older people suffer from depression or other mental illness.
6 million people in Britain have depression and/or anxiety disorders – few get effective treatment.
One in ten mothers suffers from post-natal depression.
Many services are already in place that are not normally considered as mental health services, but which could help promote public mental health and wellbeing and prevent future problems. It is these types of services that New Horizons could help promote.
Examples include:

Mother and toddler groups
School health initiatives that promote self-respect or better relationships.
Older people’s lunch clubs
Community arts projects – there is evidence that improving the built environment is good for mental health and well-being.
Reading initiatives which improve literacy, social skills and self-esteem. An example is the “Get into reading” project in the Northwest.
Inner-city sports projects which promote team work, self-respect and physical health.

Notes to Editors

New Horizons ‘Listening Events’ are currently planned as below. Formal consultation on New Horizons is also planned, following these events.

April 22 – London
April 29 – Yorkshire
April 30 – South Central
May 12 – West Midlands
May 15 – East of England (tbc)
May 22 – East Midlands
June 2 – South East Coast (tbc)
June 10 – South West

To contribute comments or suggestions for the New Horizons programme, or to be kept up to date on developments, please email: newhorizons@dh.gsi.gov.uk

(Source – News Distribution Service for Government and the Public Sector)