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January 2025

Andy Bell

Chief Executive

Dear friend,

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2025. It’s a big year ahead for Centre for Mental Health as we mark 40 years of striving for mental health equality and social justice.

This month our chair of trustees, Dame Sue Bailey ([link removed]) , retired from the board and became our first President, and Michael Morley became our new chair. Both are proud champions of mental health equality and I’m so grateful to them both for their unstinting support for our work.

In the year ahead we’re going to be leading the way in challenging for better mental health for all, and we want you to be a part of that. If you’re in a local council, our Mentally Healthier Councils Network ([link removed]) is there for you. If you’re in the NHS we can help you to boost mental health support ([link removed]) in your local area. And our research ([link removed]) can help you plan for a mentally healthier future with the latest intelligence, ideas and insights.

Right now, we’re focused on the Mental Health Bill ([link removed]) in the UK Parliament and we’re reviewing evidence about investment priorities ([link removed]) for both the 10-year health plan and the next spending review. We know that there’s a lot to be done to turn around rising levels of mental distress and to improve mental health services. In our 40th year, we will do all we can to make a positive difference.

Policy updates

NHS guidance drops some key mental health ambitions

The new NHS Planning Guidance, published today, recognises the importance of improving mental health care but provides little sign of the necessary investment or transformation to meet rising levels of need.

Some key ambitions from previous years have been dropped, including ensuring more people with a severe mental illness get an annual physical health check, and a requirement to implement the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework. These are both at the heart of mental health equality; vital to reducing the life expectancy gap faced by people with a mental illness and addressing racial injustice.

We are deeply disappointed that waiting lists for elective care have been given priority over those for mental health care. While it’s essential to get hospital waiting times down, mental health waiting lists are just as important. Placing them on a lower footing is unjust at a time when more than a million people are waiting for mental health care in England.
Read our full response ([link removed])

Mental Health Bill

The Mental Health Bill is currently being discussed in the House of Lords. It could be a big step forward for mental health - but it needs to include four key amendments.

For years, we've been campaigning for reform to the Mental Health Act, to limit the use of coercion and uproot the racial injustice which leads people from racialised communities to be disproportionately detained and placed on Community Treatment Orders.

We're working hard alongside parliamentarians and partners to ensure that the Mental Health Bill goes far enough to make a real difference in promoting people’s rights, reducing inequalities, and improving mental health outcomes for all.
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Help us continue to drive change in mental health ([link removed])

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Mentally Healthier Councils Network

Through the Mentally Healthier Councils Network, we're supporting local authorities across the country to champion mental health. If you work for local government, join the Network ([link removed]) for access to resources, training and other opportunities to improve mental health in your community.

The Network has a great webinar ([link removed]) coming up sharing insights from Greater Manchester, and there’s a chance for you to get involved ([link removed]) in shaping the Mentally Healthier Council accreditation process and a report on top council policies and interventions to support better mental health.
Join the Network ([link removed])

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Want to deliver real change for mental health in 2025?

We can work with you to understand mental health needs ([link removed]) and explore how you can create lasting impact through evidence-based policies. Our evaluations ([link removed]) and peer-led research ([link removed]) can help you address mental health inequalities and provide better support for people with mental health problems.

If your integrated care system, local authority, or mental health service is committed to building mentally healthier communities, we can support you to achieve your goals.
Here’s how we can help ([link removed])

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Local councils championing mental health in 2025 ([link removed])

by Ed Davie
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Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessments: Ensuring government policy supports good mental health ([link removed])

by Tony Coggins
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No plan without mental health ([link removed])

by Andy Bell
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Hepatitis C and mental health: Using peer support to fight stigma ([link removed])

by Sorcha Daly
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In flux between identities: the mental health impacts of transphobia ([link removed])

by Jay
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Investing in our mental health: Priorities for the NHS ten-year plan ([link removed])

by Adetola Obateru and Katie Yau

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We wanted to let you know that we will no longer be posting to X. You can now find us on Bluesky ([link removed]) , as well as the other platforms linked to at the bottom of this email.
* Centre for Mental Health responds to 2025 NHS Mandate and Planning Guidance ([link removed])
* Centre for Mental Health announces new Chair and President ([link removed])
* ‘Radical overhaul’ of mental health inpatient services is needed to shift towards community care ([link removed])
* New NHS plan is a critical moment to invest in mental health ([link removed])


If you’ve enjoyed reading this newsletter, please consider making a donation towards our work. We can’t continue the fight to end mental health injustice without your support.
Support us today ([link removed])

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Copyright (C) 2025 Centre for Mental Health. All rights reserved.
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Centre for Mental Health
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90 London Road
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