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New Horizons mental health approach
From July to October 2009, the Department of Health held a public consultation, called New Horizons in Mental Health. This consultation is now closed. The Department of Health is currently looking at what people said in response to the New Horizons consultation. It plans to publish the final New Horizons approach before the end of 2009.
Why mental health is important
"Better mental health and well-being is vital for a healthy society. Promoting good mental health is a key part of tackling many other health inequalities."
Care Services Minister Phil Hope
Good mental health is important for the well-being and prosperity of the whole country. It is linked with good physical health and many other benefits for individuals and communities.
Mental illness is distressing and many people fear the reactions of others. Stigma or prejudice often affects people more than the illness itself. People with mental health problems are amongst the most excluded in society, facing widespread prejudice, discrimination and inequalities in their physical health. The government is working with employers, campaigners, the media and the NHS to tackle this, but every single one of us has a role to play.
The Department of Health has been meeting a wide range of people and organisations across England over the last 18 months, listening to their hopes and ideas for mental health in England from 2010. They have come up with lots of views and good ideas.
Emerging from that process is a new approach to mental health. It is called New Horizons. The Department of Health held a public consultation to find out what people think about this new approach. It is now looking at what people said.
What New Horizons is about
"We want to involve everyone in building mentally healthier communities, which is why it is important that people up and down the country tell us what they think about the ideas set out in New Horizons."
Care Services Minister Phil Hope
New Horizons is about:
- making it easier for people to get the right help, in a way that suits them
- improving the quality of mental health services
- reducing the stigma that people with poor mental health often experience
New Horizons also aims to tackle the root causes of poor mental health and get support to people where and when they most need it.
The Department of Health has talked to people who use mental health services, carers, commissioners, clinicians and many others. They were asked what they think are the most important things to make mental health services better.
The people who were asked think the most important things are:
- prevention – the need to prevent as well as treat mental illness
- promotion – the need to promote mental health and well-being
- stigma – strengthening social inclusion and tackling stigma and discrimination
- early intervention – intervene early to improve long-term recovery
- personalised care – ensuring care is based on individuals' needs and wishes
- multi-agency working – working to achieve a joint approach between local authorities, the NHS and others
- innovation – finding new ways to improve mental health services based on research into new technologies
- value for money – delivering cost-effective services in a period of recession
- strengthening transition – improving the often difficult transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult services
What happens next
The Department of Health will publish the results of the consultation before the end of 2009.
If you would like to find out more, you can still look at the consultation document on the Department of Health's website.
Additional links
Mental health advice from the NHS
The NHS choices website offers help and advice on both dementia and depression
