Ahead of Theresa May’s speech today in which she is set to call for action on mental health, please find attached briefing on the Tory record in this area.

The Tories have been in Government for six years and during that time have failed to ensure that mental health is given the same priority as physical health.

Barbara Keeley MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Mental Health, commenting ahead of the speech, said:

“This Tory Government’s record on mental health is one of failure.

“They might talk about equality between mental and physical health, but we are yet to see their rhetoric become reality.

“The truth is that funding for mental health fell by over 8 per cent over the last parliament, there are now 6,600 fewer mental health nurses compared to 2010 and thousands of patients in crisis have to travel out of area for a psychiatric bed. Much of the extra funding meant for children’s mental health services has actually been used for other NHS services.

“The Government has failed to provide sufficient funding for mental health services, and people are being let down as a result.”