The UK government has announced a £150 million investment up to April 2025 to better support individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis. The funding will be used to provide more specialized emergency care and support in the community through specialised mental health ambulances, more crisis services, and improved health-based places of safety.
According to official statistics, patients presenting with mental health problems are twice as likely to spend 12 hours or more in emergency departments than other patients. This highlights the need for more appropriate settings outside of A&E for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The funding will allow for the procurement of up to 100 new mental health ambulances, which will take specialist staff directly to patients to deliver support on scene or transfer them to the most appropriate place for care.
The new ambulances have been designed to provide a calmer environment, avoiding the bright yellow interior of traditional NHS ambulances and using simple NHS service logos, dimmable lighting, and space for family and friends to accompany the patient during assessment. These are backed by £7 million in government funding.
The remaining £143 million of capital funding, announced in the 2021 Spending Review, will go towards 150 new projects. It will be invested in providing and improving a range of spaces to support people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, mental health crises. This includes new mental health urgent assessment and care centers and the redesign and refurbishment of existing mental health suites and facilities, including in emergency departments, creating spaces outside of A&E, and the expansion of crisis lines.
With planned projects located across the country, the 150 schemes support the wider government commitment to level up mental health and wellbeing across the country – including some of the most deprived local authority areas in England. Programs will also focus on preventative measures, including improvement of sanctuary spaces, to improve mental wellbeing, and community mental health facilities that will work to help people before reaching crisis point.
The new projects include over 30 schemes providing crisis cafes, crisis houses, and other similar safe spaces. These safe spaces provide an alternative to A&E departments and offer a more relaxed and comfortable environment for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. They provide a place where individuals can receive support, information, and advice, as well as the opportunity to talk to someone who understands their situation.
Over 20 new or improved health-based places of safety will also be provided which provide a safe space for people detained by the police. These places of safety will be staffed by mental health professionals and will provide a safe and appropriate environment for people who are in crisis and who have been detained by the police.
The funding will also be used to improve NHS 111 and crisis phone lines. These services will be expanded to ensure that people in need of mental health support can access it easily and quickly. The government is committed to ensuring that people in crisis receive the help they need, when they need it.
In the middle of a challenging winter, the government says it is doing everything it can to ease the pressure on the NHS, particularly A&E, by making sure people are receiving the care they need in the most appropriate setting.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
"People in mental health crisis deserve compassionate care in a safe and appropriate setting. Too often, they end up in A&E when they should be receiving specialist treatment elsewhere. This important funding will make sure they get the help they need, while easing pressures on emergency departments and freeing up staff time – which is a huge priority for the government this winter."
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:
"the health systems facing huge challenges this winter from the rise in flu, ongoing Covid cases and the impact of the pandemic, we need to ensure people are still receiving the right specialist care.
These dedicated facilities will ensure patients experiencing a mental health crisis receive the care they need in an appropriate way, whilst freeing up staff availability including within A&E departments.
These schemes – along with the up to 100 new mental health ambulances – will give patients across the country greater access to high-quality, tailored support when needed the most.''
The new mental health ambulances and safe spaces will provide individuals with the support they need in a timely manner, while also easing the pressure on A&E departments.
Additionally, the expansion of NHS 111 and crisis phone lines will ensure that individuals in need of mental health support can access it easily and quickly. This will not only improve the care provided to individuals in crisis, but it will also help to prevent a crisis from occurring in the first place.
The government's commitment to providing preventative measures, including the improvement of sanctuary spaces, is also an important aspect of this funding. By focusing on preventative measures, the government is working to improve mental wellbeing and prevent individuals from reaching crisis point. This will ultimately result in a more efficient and effective mental health care system.
Overall, this £150 million investment is a step in the right direction towards improving the mental health care system in the UK. The government's commitment to providing specialized and appropriate care for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, as well as their focus on preventative measures, will have a positive impact on the mental health of individuals in the UK. The investment will also ease the pressure on the NHS and provide more efficient care for individuals in need.
