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New Horizons: working together for better mental health
Good mental health is important to us all. The cost of mental ill health touches us all every day, whether we are aware of it or not, and the effects on sufferers and their families can be devastating.
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About
New Horizons is a comprehensive programme of action for improving the mental well-being of the population and the services that care for people with poor mental health by 2020.
It brings together organisations across national and local government, voluntary and statutory agencies, as well as local communities and individuals to work towards a society that values mental well-being as much as physical health.
New Horizons covers a lifetime - from laying down the foundations of good mental health in childhood, through to maintaining resilience into older age. It also emphasises the importance of prevention through to effective treatment and recovery.
It also outlines the benefits of reducing the burden of mental illness and unlocking the benefits of well-being in terms of physical health, educational attainment, employment and reduced crime.
How New Horizons helps
The new strategy covers a number of areas to better address people’s mental health and well-being.
These include:
- making everyone’s mental well-being better
- helping everyone to understand mental health problems and not to treat people with mental health problems unfairly
- spotting mental health problems early
- providing services and treatments in ways that meet people’s individual needs
- working with councils, the NHS and others to make sure people get services that look after all their needs
- making it easier for young people to keep getting help after they are 18
- carry on making services better and using resources effectiveley
- making it easier for people to find and get the help they need
- making sure people have a say in the treatment they get.
Additional links
New Horizons Facebook group
See what others are saying about New Horizons
National Mental Health Development Unit
Policy information and advice for professionals.
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