Luciana Berger MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Mental Health, commenting ahead of the Prime Minister’s speech, said:
“Much of what the Prime Minister claims to be announcing today on mental health is not new.
"Where there is any additional investment in mental health, it will be much needed to repair the damage done over the last five years.
“On David Cameron’s watch mental health spending dropped for the first time in a decade. He has presided over service cuts, staff shortages and widespread poor-quality care.
“For many people with mental health problems, these words from the Prime Minister are too little, too late.
“It is also disappointing that the Prime Minister has nothing to say on prevention. The pressure on our mental health services is becoming unsustainable. It is deeply worrying that so little attention is given to preventing people from needing these services in the first place. The cuts to public health budgets over the coming years will only make this job harder.
“With the independent Mental Health Taskforce due to publish its recommendations shortly, it is unclear why the Prime Minister is pre-empting that report. When the report is finally published the Government will need to turn their rhetoric on mental health into real action.”
ENDS