Donate
Chancellor Philip Hammond has revealed the government’s plans for spending over the next 12 months today, Monday 29th October 2018.
Amongst the planned spend is an extra £2 billion being allocated to mental health services as part of a bid to make care more dedicated.
The services will include special ambulances that look like normal cars to reduce stigma. These will be used to treat mental illnesses and ensures they are treated as seriously as physical ones.
There will also be specialist mental health support available 24/7 in every accident and emergency department in the country.
Schools will receive a dedicated crisis team to support pupils with mild to moderate mental health illnesses.
Mr Hammond also announced that there will be a new 24-hour mental health crisis hotline.
Founder of the Charlie Watkins Foundation, Harry Watkins, has remarked that this is a “huge step forward” for the UK.
“The £2 billion boost to mental health in the country marks a phenomenal change in attitudes towards individuals who suffer on a day-to-day basis.
“Even though there are reports of declining figures in suicide, this does not take into consideration the staggering amounts of people still suffering from issues with their mental health.
“Dedicated crisis teams in schools in particular are a huge step forward. This will ensure that students’ mental health is supported earlier, and they are not made to feel that they should suffer in silence.”
The announcement comes after Theresa May’s appointed her first ever minister for suicide prevention on World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2018.
