Council leaders have called for long term funding for local mental health services in response to a study that warns the prevalence of depression will see a dramatic increase over the next two decades.
A new study by the Centre for Mental Health has predicted that the prevalence of depression and anxiety is likely to rise by 16% by 2040.
The report, entitled A Mentally Healthier Nation, also found that children from the poorest families are four times as likely to have a mental health problem by the age of 11 than the wealthiest children.
Published by Centre for Mental Health on behalf of over 30 national charities, the report also found that black people in the UK are four times more likely to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act than white people, and that people with severe mental illness face a 20-year shorter life expectancy than average in the UK.
Among several recommendations, the study calls for more investment in local public health services and new access standards to end long waits for essential services.
It also called for ‘urgent action’ on children’s mental health services, including full coverage of school and college mental health support teams, and a national network of young people’s early support hubs.
Responding to the report, Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board said that local mental health services were ‘under increasing pressure to keep up with rising levels of demand.’
‘It is clear that local mental health services and support provided by councils need long term sustainable funding to meet this challenge,’ he said.
‘Supporting children and young people to tackle their mental health needs when they arise and investment in early intervention helps to save costs to the health service and prevents problems developing further down the line.’
