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Mental health ten years on: progress on mental health care reform

A 10-year programme of reform of mental health care was launched in 1999. Since then annual investment in specialist mental health services has increased by over £1.5 billion. We have over 700 new mental health teams in the community offering home treatment, early intervention or intensive support. Last year almost 100,000 people were treated at home rather than admitted to hospital. There have been large increases in all the main staff groups, including a rise of 1300 consultant psychiatrists, 2700 clinical psychologists and almost 10,000 mental health nurses. Modern drug treatments that were previously rationed are now used more than the older drugs – there has been a 20-fold increase in the use of modern anti-psychotic drugs. The national patient survey shows that 77% of community patients rate their care as good, very good or excellent. The suicide rate has fallen to the lowest figure on record - and records began in 1861. The WHO has said that England has the best services in Europe.

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