Mental health services in England are experiencing a period of unprecedented change. In the last five years, a wealth of evidence has emerged about which practices are effective and which are not. Recent policy and consultation documents, implementation guides and good practice examples are available here.
New articles, strategy documents, guidance articles and letters published by the Mental health team at DH.
One in five mental health in-patients comes from a black and minority ethnic (BME) background, compared to about one in ten of the population as a whole. In January 2005, the Department of Health published a five-year action plan, Delivering Race Equality (DRE) in Mental Health Care. DRE aims to help mental health services provide care that fully meets the needs of BME patients and build stronger links with diverse communities.
The Directions and amendments below should be read in conjunction with the detailed guidance notes issued with the Directions in 2000.
Contact Louis Appleby, the National Director for Mental Health, with your views on mental illnesses and mental health services.
September 1999 blueprint for tackling mental health problems. Sets out detailed directions and goals for improved mental health services all over England.
National network launched in 2002 to improve the quality of life of anyone with a mental health problem.