Dr Sanjith Kamath, Executive Medical Director, responds to government's Autumn 2024 budget

Yesterday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, delivered her first Budget, laying out the UK government's financial priorities for next year and beyond.

We are pleased that the government is focussing on expanding and transforming mental health services, but there's still so much to be done. Mental health accounts for 20% of all ill health but only gets 10% of NHS spend, and more and more vulnerable people are slipping through the net.

Our Dr Sanjith Kamath is calling on the government to do more to support the most vulnerable in our society. Read his thoughts below...

“We are pleased to see the Government is continuing its efforts to expand and transform mental health and social care services, but it’s important we do not lose sight of the most vulnerable people who are living with really complex mental health conditions.

“We have to shift the focus of our efforts - as well as putting funding into resources aimed at treating people in mental health crisis, we must also tackle the root causes that are significantly impacting their lives.

“As the UK’s largest mental health charity, treating individuals with the most complex mental health needs, we see first-hand the impact that a lack of attention and funding is having on the most vulnerable people in our society – people who are experiencing poorer physical and mental health outcomes, and a lower life expectancy.

“Prevention is always better than cure; substance abuse, homelessness, adverse childhood experiences and lack of support are all common complicating factors which increase an individual’s likelihood to have complex mental health needs.

“Not addressing these factors makes it more likely that a person’s mental health declines to the level where they become a risk to either themselves or others, thus requiring treatment in an inpatient hospital.

“This won’t be fixed in one budget, but we are calling on the Government to see the bigger picture, and turn the tide of rising poor mental health, by tackling the root causes for the most vulnerable people within our society.”