The time for action is now

摘要

Mental health should be a key part of every local public health strategy. This has always been true but, as our NHS mental health services struggle to cope with increasing demand, it has never been more important to take a preventative approach to mental health. However, while the case for taking action to prevent heart disease, cancer and other physical health conditions has long been accepted, we have been slower to realise the potential of programmes that reduce the prevalence of mental health problems and promote wellbeing. The total annual spend by local authorities on preventing physical health problems is considerable, including increasing physical activity (£76m), anti-obesity (£108m), smoking cessation (£160m) and sexual health initiatives (£671m). Research by Mind indicates that the equivalent spend for preventing mental health problems is a fraction of this, at less than £40m. The average spend is just 1.4% of the public health budget and some local authorities have allocated nothing from their 2014/15 budget. This is despite the fact that mental health problems make up 23% of the total 'burden of disease' in the UK and cost the country an estimated £100bn each year through lost working days, benefits, lost tax revenue and the cost of treatment.