The Chancellor's recent Autumn Budget brought some welcome news for the NHS, with pledges to cut down waiting lists and boost the number of weekly appointments. But as we reflect on these announcements at the Society, we find ourselves asking: will this funding genuinely benefit those that need it most, at the right point? How much of it will be earmarked specifically for mental health? And will it go far enough to make a real difference?
One of the most standout announcements from our perspective was the commitment to new mental health crisis centres. This is undoubtedly a positive step, and it is heartening to see some funding going towards mental health support. But why wait until people reach a crisis? Why not intervene sooner, with support that prevents people from reaching that point? The truth is that early, accessible intervention would help reduce the need for crisis services in the first place. When people have timely access to mental health support, their chances of reaching crisis point diminish significantly.
And why can’t we give people more choice and control in their mental health journey? Right now, many people are left with few options, facing long waits and limited therapeutic choices. Empowering people to have some choice over who they work with - and what type of therapy or intervention they receive - would completely change their experience and allow space for all the relational good-stuff, like trust, collaboration, and a real sense of agency in the healing/change process. The relationship between therapist and client is one of the most important factors in successful outcomes, and choice plays a significant role in building that bond.
There’s also a focus in this budget on helping people back into work, particularly those who have been experiencing mental health challenges. But how will this be managed? Will it be carried out with compassion, centred on relational, person-centred values, as these people can be particularly vulnerable? Getting people back into the workplace should be an opportunity to support people to grow, to regain purpose and a sense of stability: not just a cost-saving exercise. And that means providing the mental health support needed to sustain them there, so work becomes a source of meaning, not strain.
We also can’t ignore the reality that mental ill-health is costing the economy and society more than ever before - estimated at over £300 billion every year. So why aren’t we actually doing more with this budget? Some announcements, of course, give us hope that things could improve over this Parliament, but it still doesn't go far enough at a time when they have the opportunity to put some significant, long-term improvements in place. At a time when over a million people are on mental health waiting lists, we need long-term solutions. We need investment that prevents problems from escalating, that protects people before crisis strikes, and that places mental health at the heart of every policy decision. We need a cabinet-level Minister that focuses on mental health, and ensures that any policies enacted by this Government have mental health considerations at their heart.
At the NCPS, we’ll be watching closely to see how this funding is allocated and where the real focus will land. Will it be on prevention, on autonomy, on timely intervention? We hope so. And we'll continue to work with MPs and policymakers to push for the changes that will bring counselling and psychotherapy back to the front and centre of the nation’s mental health strategy.
