People struggling with their mental health will get help earlier and closer to home, with a new NHS mental health facility opening in Newcastle under plans announced by the Labour Government.
One of 159 new facilities opening across England, backed by £343 million, Labour is rolling out the biggest redesign of adult mental health services in a generation. This includes 100 new community mental health centres, offering walk-in support without a referral and without a months-long wait, and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments giving people in crisis specialist care in a place designed for them.
Demand for mental health services has risen sharply, particularly among children and young people, with around one in five people experiencing a common mental health condition each year. Too often, people only receive support once they reach crisis point, leaving families without the help they need and placing greater pressure on NHS services.
The new centre in Newcastle will make it easier for adults to get the right help the first time they ask for it, by bringing mental health and specialist teams together under one roof – working alongside GPs, councils, the voluntary sector and families, with direct links into housing and employment support.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“Nobody should be left to struggle with their mental health alone. But every day, thousands of people are waiting months for help, then finding the only door open to them is a busy A&E.
“These new centres will be a lifeline for so many. They will bring NHS services closer to home, making it easier to get support before problems get worse, and ensuring those in crisis get the right care in the right place.
“On the steps of Downing Street, I said we would build a country that acts sooner when people need help. Today is just the start of making that a reality.”
Leader of Newcastle Labour Group, Cllr Ged Bell added:
“People in Newcastle are hungry for change and that is what Andy Burnham’s new government is delivering. People need NHS services close to home, and they need mental health to be taken seriously. These services do exactly that, and with nearly 1/3 of a Billion pounds investment will make a huge difference to the people that most need the support “.