head of policy, public affairs and campaigns at Mind

“The government set out a welcome ambition to move towards a more open access model of support through neighbourhood mental health centres. But if funding for staff and services is being cut, meaningful improvements to the mental health system will be impossible.”

National Priority Programme Director for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodevelopmental Conditions

“Across the country, NHS teams are already working to provide mental health support closer to where people live, alongside specialist care for those who need more urgent help. The rollout of more community mental health centres and dedicated mental health emergency departments will build on this work, strengthening both early support in the community and care for people in crisis, while helping services work together more effectively around people's needs.”

Deputy Chief Executive at Rethink Mental Illness

“Everyone should be able to access mental health support in their local community, when and where they need it. The expansion of neighbourhood mental health centres is a vital step towards making this a reality, building on the promising results of existing pilot sites.”

Chief Executive at the Mental Health Foundation

“Many of the drivers of poor mental health are issues like problem debt, unemployment, and living in insecure, poor-quality housing. Addressing these concerns helps prevent poor mental health and makes recovery more successful.”

Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh

“A new study my colleagues and I conducted provides one of the most detailed long-term pictures to date of the clinical outcomes for young people who attended Camhs in the UK.”

GP and head of the department of primary care and public health at Imperial College London

“If GPs are expected to work from or alongside these centres, this should strengthen continuity of care and support existing primary care services. Any expansion of GPs' roles must therefore be matched by investment in the primary care workforce, rather than relying on an already overstretched service to do more with the same resources.”

assistant director of the NHS Alliance's mental health network

“Mental health services are coming under extraordinary pressure as a result of rapidly rising demand for care and very tough financial conditions.”

GP co-lead, Doctors' Association UK

“Any improvement in mental health care is to be welcomed. Staffing of these services will be important as we know that there are multiple vacancies in psychiatry creating delays in treatment. It is vital that highly trained staff are employed in supporting patients.”