Mental Health Treatment and Support

Lindsay Hoyle Speaker

Chorley

I inform the House that I have selected the amendment in the name of the Prime Minister.

Toby Perkins Lab

Chesterfield

Supports the lead speaker's argument that austerity measures have significantly impacted mental health and agrees with Labour's approach of a long-term, whole-Government plan.

Dan Carden Lab

Liverpool Walton

Highlights the importance of integrated care for people with co-occurring alcohol and mental health problems, urging the Government to act on recent recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee.

Jim Shannon DUP

Strangford

Commends Labour's focus on mental health issues and agrees that early intervention is crucial in preventing more severe crises later on.

Janet Daby Lab

Lewisham East

Supports the lead speaker’s argument about the unacceptable waiting times for treatment, highlighting the shortage of psychiatrists and the need for better mental health services funding.

Margaret Greenwood

Discusses the extreme pressure faced by staff in psychiatric care due to violence, verbal abuse, and other issues, agreeing that a Labour Government is necessary to invest properly in mental health services.

Munira Wilson Lib Dem

Twickenham

Highlights the importance of schools providing early support for children's mental health conditions before they escalate into crises, and calls for full funding roll-out of mental health support teams in schools.

Luke Pollard Lab Co-op

Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

Raises concerns about the underfunding of young people's mental health services compared to adult services, arguing that investing early is crucial for prevention and reducing future costs.

Neil O'Brien Con

Harborough, Oadby and Wigston

Improving mental health is a top priority for this Government. We have committed an additional £2.3 billion per year to expand and transform mental health services in England by 2024, increasing the frontline mental health workforce to meet ambitions set out in the NHS long-term plan. The number of adults accessing talking therapies has increased significantly, with over 1.2 million people receiving treatment annually, meeting national waiting time targets.

Emma Hardy Lab

Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

Asks the Minister to explain why families are experiencing helplessness as their children's mental health deteriorates while on long waiting lists despite increased funding.

Fleur Anderson Lab

Putney

Raises concerns about 10,000 young people in NHS South West London ICB area being on waiting lists without receiving the support they need, leading to deteriorating mental health and despair among families.

Andy McDonald Lab

Middlesbrough and Thornaby East

Asks for information regarding a public inquiry into the deaths of three young women under care of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust.

Munira Wilson Lib Dem

Twickenham

Expresses alarm at projected halving of training posts for child and adolescent psychiatry by 2031 in London despite rising mental health disorders among youth. Requests an explanation from the Minister.

Toby Perkins Lab

Chesterfield

Suggests that Government policies may have contributed to the rise in mental health demand, asking for confirmation or alternative explanations.

Luke Evans Con

Hinckley and Bosworth

Highlights the distinction between mental wellbeing and mental health, supporting social prescribing as a means of appropriate support for those suffering with their mental wellbeing.

Andrew Bridgen

Asks about the increase in suicide rates during lockdown specifically in his constituency compared to others.

Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem

Bath

Calls for an eating disorder prevention champion to address the rising crisis of eating disorders with a high mortality rate and risk of suicide.

Janet Daby Lab

Lewisham East

Raises concern about long waiting lists for mental health therapy following initial counselling and therapy, specifically mentioning a constituent on the list for over one year and a half.

Ben Spencer Con

Runnymede and Weybridge

Welcomes construction of Abraham Cowley unit to eradicate dormitories in his constituency.

Florence Eshalomi Lab Co-op

Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Calls for implementation of Seni’s law to prevent restraint-related deaths in mental health units, emphasising prevention measures.

Marsha de Cordova Lab

Battersea

Questions the timing of the draft mental health Bill's tabling to address racial disparities among young black men sectioned under Mental Health Act 1983.

Liz Twist Lab

Blaydon and Consett

Raises concerns about the delay in publishing a refreshed national suicide prevention strategy despite initial earmarking of funds for local work on suicide prevention.

Jon Trickett Lab

Normanton and Hemsworth

There is a mental health crisis in the UK, exacerbated by social and economic conditions. Normanton and Hemsworth constituency faces significant challenges such as low social mobility, high deprivation rates, and limited access to essential services like housing and healthcare. The government’s response falls short of addressing these issues adequately. NHS staff wages have fallen, nursing bursaries have been cut, and mental health beds lost since 2010. In West Yorkshire alone, 10,000 people were released from acute hospitals without receiving recommended mental health treatment in the same year. Additionally, 60,000 patients had to be referred outside their area for treatment due to local shortages. These issues highlight systemic failures and the need for substantial investment in mental health services.

Dean Russell Con

Watford

Welcomed the debate on mental health, emphasised the importance of addressing stigma and improving support in the workplace. Called for parity between physical and mental health services and engagement with Ministers to improve support systems.

Neil Coyle Lab

Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Discussed personal experience with mental health issues, criticised the Government's approach, highlighted inadequacies in support for those with mental illness, mentioned improvements made by local Labour council, and shared a tragic case of Stephen Crawford to illustrate the human impact of the crisis.

Neil Hudson Con

Epping Forest

I welcome the Government’s announcements over many months, including £3 billion a year increase in funding and the £10 million for suicide prevention. I am passionate about achieving parity of esteem between physical and mental health and support increasing mental health first aid training in educational settings and workplaces. Rural mental health is critical with charities such as the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution providing support. We need cross-Government working to mitigate issues around rural isolation, connectivity, broadband, and transport.

Toby Perkins Lab

Chesterfield

The Government's underfunding of mental health services has led to an increase in the number of people with mental health problems. Every week I meet parents exasperated by unavailable treatment and support, causing children to miss months or even years of schooling. We need local access to specialist services for families to easily support patients, particularly children. The Government's role in increasing pressures on people has contributed to the mental health crisis, including a significant rise in child and youth mental health disorders between 2017 and 2022.

Vicky Ford Con

South Suffolk

Expressed deep concern over the tragic issue of in-patient mental health deaths in Essex since 2000, noting that roughly 2,000 people have lost their lives. Highlighted ongoing concerns about the lack of progress and engagement between EPUT and the inquiry, emphasising families' desire for accountability and improved patient safety today. Emphasised the need for a 'quantum leap in cooperation' with the inquiry and requested a decision on whether it should move to statutory status soon. Mentioned positive developments such as the launch of a mental health urgent care unit in Basildon that saw 200 people in its first month, significantly reducing wait times and improving patient outcomes. Also discussed new technologies like neuromodulation centres, electronic patient records, and measures to combat social media-fuelled eating disorders.

Kim Leadbeater Lab

Spen Valley

Criticised the current approach to mental health as wholly inadequate despite previous commitments by David Cameron. Highlighted personal stories of individuals like Amelia, diagnosed with autism at seven and struggling for support, and Eli, a 10-year-old with Tourette's syndrome facing significant challenges in accessing psychiatric care. Emphasised that teachers are spending far more time discussing mental health needs than other educational issues due to lack of national leadership on the issue. Pledged respect for voluntary organisations stepping up but stressed these cannot be expected to deal with widespread societal health issues alone, advocating for parity between mental health and physical health services.

Ben Spencer Con

Runnymede and Weybridge

Celebrates the rebuild of the Abraham Cowley unit in his constituency which will improve mental health care delivery. Emphasises the importance of a fit-for-purpose mental health estate for patients needing in-patient treatment. Supports the draft Mental Health Bill, advocating cross-party work and careful consideration of balance between autonomy and necessary care. Highlights the importance of addressing psychosis due to its disabling nature.

Vicky Ford

Asks why psychosis is often missed out in mental health debates.

Daisy Cooper Lib Dem

St Albans

Raises concerns about delayed diagnosis, medication reviews, inappropriate supervision, and long waiting times for mental health care packages. Criticises the Government's response to increased demand during the pandemic, citing staffing issues and budget pressures. Advocates for early prevention measures, qualified practitioners in schools, community hubs, and support for mental health charities and workforce development.

Miriam Cates Con

North East Hertfordshire

Discussed the rise in diagnosable mental health conditions among children, from one in nine before lockdown to one in six now. She mentioned isolation and loneliness as significant contributors, alongside economic consequences and NHS backlogs. Emphasised the need for prevention over increased funding for remedial capacity, citing smartphone use and social media harms as major issues.

Lyn Brown Lab

Newham

Described the mental health crisis in Newham due to a young population with no commitment from the Government that health funding will match it. Highlighted 41,000 children living in poverty and poor housing conditions affecting mental health. Mentioned a 30% increase in referrals for mental health services, complex cases, and long waiting times for treatment. Called for more mental health staff and preventive measures to avoid future problems.

Aaron Bell Con

Worcester

Emphasised the importance of reducing stigma and increasing awareness of mental health issues. Noted the record investment of £2.3 billion by the Government for mental health services, which includes extra doctors and nurses to support people. Acknowledged societal changes like social media's impact on mental health and the increased prevalence of autism among young children in schools. Highlighted the need for more educational psychologists to address special educational needs alongside poor mental health, as well as the training of senior mental health leads in schools. Mentioned university students facing mental health challenges due to pandemic-related restrictions.

Debbie Abrahams Lab

Oldham East and Saddleworth

Critiqued the Government's approach, pointing out that seven out of 10 secondary school children are expressing mental health distress. Highlighted Oldham's high prevalence of mental health disorders compared to reduced funding from the government, showing stark disparities in service provision across different regions. Advocated for early intervention and the recruitment of thousands of new mental health professionals as part of Labour’s plan to address the lack of parity between mental and physical health services. Criticised the Government’s delay in producing a workforce plan for the NHS, stressing that such delays exacerbate the ongoing crisis.

David Davis Con

Goole and Pocklington

Raised a point of order regarding a recent High Court ruling on SLAPPs cases, which he views as a victory for free speech in Britain. Noted that this case involved Mr Mohamed Amersi against the former MP Charlotte Leslie.

Eleanor Laing

Responded to David Davis’s point of order by acknowledging the importance of the High Court's ruling on SLAPPs and expressed the House's agreement with his views. Announced that she looks forward to hearing him discuss this matter further during an Adjournment debate.

Olivia Blake Lab

Sheffield Hallam

As an officer of the all-party parliamentary group on eating disorders, I thank Vicky Ford for her bravery in sharing her experience. The statistics on the NHS crisis speak to themselves: 5.4 million hours waiting in A&E for people with mental health issues is a scandal. One-quarter of 17 to 19-year-olds have probable mental illnesses, and nearly one in ten seven to sixteen-year-olds and a third of seventeen to twenty-four-year-olds have tried self-harm. Children on the NHS South Yorkshire integrated care board waiting list total 10,015. I also raise concerns about children with eating disorders having to wait for tier 4 beds due to lack of preventive care.

Paulette Hamilton Lab

Birmingham Erdington

Public services in Britain are crumbling due to chronic neglect by the Conservative Government. In Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, nearly 3,000 children and almost 50,000 adults were on mental health waiting lists in December. Since 2010, one in four mental health beds have been cut across the country as waiting times for treatment soar. Currently, 400,000 children are waiting for mental health treatment. Labour’s plan to recruit thousands more mental health staff and provide a mental health professional in every school is crucial.

Holly Lynch

The Metropolitan police's decision to stop attending mental health calls unless there is a risk to life has highlighted the role of policing. Mental health specialists are needed instead when somebody is in crisis, as they provide the right care. It is often difficult for mental health trusts and professionals to step forward, leading to other services providing care that they are not qualified to give. Labour's plan aims to recruit thousands of mental health staff, expand access to treatment, and introduce open access hubs for children and young people.

Emma Hardy Lab

Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

There has been a narrative about whether it is increasing awareness of mental health that leads to more cases being reported, or if there are actually more people suffering from mental health problems. Michele Moran, head on this issue for the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed there are more people suffering from mental health conditions. I have seen two examples: a 13-year-old boy who has not been in school for two years and a 17-year-old girl who took an overdose after not getting help she needed, which sectioned her due to her deteriorating condition. We need professionals in schools and must address poverty, debt, and the cost of living crisis to solve this mental health crisis.

Simon Lightwood Lab Co-op

Wakefield and Rothwell

West Yorkshire has among the highest rates of mental health issues, with 28,630 children and 63,755 adults on waiting lists alone. In Wakefield, one in three people suffer from mental illness; Eastmoor has the highest prevalence. With more than 5.4 million hours waiting in A&E for mental health patients in 2021-22, 1.6 million people stuck on long waiting lists and nearly 400,000 children currently waiting for treatment, many patients are told they will have to wait a year for their treatment to start. I am voting for Labour’s motion to guarantee mental health treatment within a month for all who need it, recruit thousands of new mental health staff and ensure that mental health specialists are in every school.

Rachel Hopkins Lab

Luton South and South Bedfordshire

The Conservative cost of living crisis is causing a mental health crisis; people from the poorest 20% households are four times more likely to have serious mental health difficulties by age 11. Children on waiting lists in my area are waiting an average of 21 weeks for their first appointment, with over 7,034 hours spent in A&E and over 15,000 children on mental health waiting lists. For adults, 43% said long waiting times worsened their mental health; nearly 11,000 hours were spent by adults in the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust area in A&E due to lack of treatment options. I support Labour’s community-focused preventive plan for mental health.

Layla Moran Lib Dem

Oxford West and Abingdon

Our mental health system is broken, particularly for young people. The Mental Health Foundation found that 40% of students are not coping well with anxiety, and in Oxfordshire, a survey by The Tab in 2022 revealed an alarming 82% of students self-medicated due to lack of mental health support from the NHS. Universities need a statutory duty of care for students, similar to that between employers and employees. Parents struggle as they wait years for their children’s treatments through CAMHS. We must fund more mental healthcare to prevent tragedies like Rory's suicide.

Marie Rimmer Lab

St Helens South and Whiston

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, not physical illnesses. Mental health should be on par with physical health in terms of resources. The Government scrapped their mental health plan, showing a lack of long-term vision. Society needs to change attitudes towards mental health; it's dangerous and harmful when men are told to 'man up.' Businesses need a duty to provide accessible mental health care for employees, including mental first aid training.

Rebecca Long-Bailey Lab

Salford

Greater Manchester has 23,510 children and 89,250 adults on waiting lists for NHS mental health services. Many are forced to take out loans for private assessments and treatment due to long wait times. Children with severe conditions often have no beds available unless they go onto adult wards. Staff are overworked, underpaid, and the service has collapsed. There is a chronic understaffing issue and funding remains inadequate. Poor mental health costs £118 billion per year, but much of it is preventable with proper investment.

Liz Twist Lab

Blaydon and Consett

The Minister spoke earlier about what the Government have done for the mental health service, but we in Labour believe people in mental health crisis are not getting urgent support. I am glad that we in Labour have a clear plan to address this issue and suicide prevention. In my local trust in the north-east, adults spent over 1,134 hours in A&E at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust while children spent 180 hours there. The North East Ambulance Service received 3,622 emergency calls from people in mental health crisis. NHS Digital figures for 2022 showed that in the north-east and north Cumbria ICB alone, 31,345 children and 70,770 adults were on waiting lists, with 12,845 patients having treatments closed without an appointment. YoungMinds charity stated urgent referrals to CAMHS are at record highs, and many young people have experienced suicidal thoughts, psychosis or self-harm due to long waits for treatment.

Mary Foy Lab

City of Durham

England is in the midst of a mental health crisis, especially in the north-east. I join my hon. Friends in calling for an independent inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust due to serious cases of improper care and misdiagnosis. The Care Quality Commission reports have raised concerns about risk assessments, communications, record keeping, staffing levels, high staff turnover and a lack of neurodiversity training. There have been tragic cases where young people took their lives while in the trust's care. I urge the Minister to commit to an independent, judge-led inquiry into the trust. The crisis in children’s mental health is evident with over 1,000 hours spent by children in A&E due to a mental health crisis and over 30,000 children on waiting lists. No one should be in a mental health crisis, let alone children.

Andrew Gwynne Ind

Gorton and Denton

We have had a thorough debate, highlighting heartbreaking experiences in the mental health system. The Minister's amendment is disconnected from people’s realities. We heard contributions from Members on both sides of the House who spoke about the severe challenges faced by individuals seeking mental health support. After 13 years of Tory government, many areas are falling behind with increased waiting times, a surge in drug-related deaths, and suicides being the leading cause of death for adults under 34. The motion calls for recruiting 8,500 mental health staff, providing specialist support in schools, and establishing open-access hubs for children and young people. These measures would be funded by closing tax loopholes to ensure access to treatment across England. We also aim to improve prevention through a holistic approach addressing social determinants of health, creating neighbourhood teams for comprehensive care, and reducing pressure on A&E departments.

Maria Caulfield Con

Scarborough and Whitby

The Conservative Party is committed to improving mental health services in England, citing significant progress over the last decade. Maria Caulfield highlights the government's £2.3 billion investment into frontline mental health services, which has supported an additional 2 million people accessing NHS-funded services. She emphasises the recruitment of 27,000 staff members and the reduction of dormitory-style accommodation through a £400 million capital programme. Additionally, she mentions the introduction of three targets for access to talking therapies, early intervention, and psychosis treatment. Caulfield criticises the Labour Party's track record in Wales regarding mental health funding increases and waiting times for psychological therapies, arguing that their actions do not match their rhetoric.

Neil Hudson Con

Epping Forest

Hudson emphasises the importance of prevention and breaking down stigma associated with mental health issues. He calls for a message to be sent from Members on both sides of the House that it is acceptable not to feel okay and encourages people to reach out for help.

Vicky Ford Con

Chelmsford

Ford expresses her disappointment with the Labour Party's suggestion that she does not care about mental health. She highlights the significant impact of the pandemic on children and young people’s mental health, emphasising the importance of learning from existing innovations to improve services.

Neil Coyle Lab

Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Coyle requests an opportunity to speak but does not provide a detailed contribution in this excerpt.

Lyn Brown

Brown repeatedly asks for the Minister's attention without providing specific contributions or positions.

Yvette Cooper Lab

Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley

The right hon. Member questioned the accuracy of Home Secretary's statements regarding asylum initial decision backlog figures, arguing that the current data shows an increase in the backlog for both main applicants and all applicants since December 2022, contradicting the Home Secretary’s claim of a reduction.

Rosie Winterton Lab

unknown constituency

The hon. Member acknowledged the right hon. Lady's point of order but stated that it is not for the Chair to adjudicate in cases of differing interpretations of statistics, and she expected Ministers to correct any mistakes they have made. She noted that the Home Secretary will reflect on whether a correction is necessary.

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Mental Health Treatment and Support

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