Lib Dems lead with £11bn investment to transform mental health services

The Liberal Democrats will invest £11 billion in transforming mental health services, more than either Labour or the Tories, analysis by the party has found.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto mentions mental health 59 times, compared to just three times in the Conservative manifesto and 15 in Labour's.

The Liberal Democrats have set out a clear and detailed plan to improve mental health services by:

• Making prescriptions for people with chronic mental health conditions available for free on the NHS
• Increasing access to talking therapies so that hundreds of thousands more people can receive this support
• Providing a dedicated maternal postnatal appointment for new mothers to tackle under-diagnosis of mental health problems,
• Training all teaching staff to identify mental health issues and ensuring schools provide access for pupil support and counselling.

For too long too many people have suffered as a result of the outdated Mental Health Act 1983. A Liberal Democrat government will reform the Mental Health Act in line with all the recommendations of the Wessely review. This includes introducing the principle of 'care not containment', to reduce the number of people inappropriately detained under the Mental Health Act. Reforms will also tackle the disproportionate number of people from black and minority ethnic groups detained under this law.

Commenting, Liberal Democrats candidate for Rugby & Bulkington, Rana Das-Gupta, said:

"Too many people are struggling with their mental health and aren't receiving the support they need.

"The Conservatives have failed to bring forward changes that would see mental health approached with the same urgency as physical health. Their manifesto at this election only mentions mental health three times. It is clear that - under a Conservative government - mental health will not be a priority.

"The Liberal Democrats are the party of mental health. We have the most detailed plan to improve mental health services and we will commit £11 billion over five years to make these changes. This is at the heart of our plan to build a brighter future for all."

Comparison of party manifestos on mental health:

Liberal Democrats

• Extra £2.2 billion into mental health services by 2023-24 (on top of the additional £2.3 billion already announced by the Conservative government in 2018)
• Extra £11 billion into mental health services over five years
• Mentions mental health 59 times

Conservatives

• Additional £2.3 billion going into mental health services by 2023-24 (already announced in 2018).
• Only mentions mental health 3 times

Labour

• Extra £1.6 billion into mental health services by 2023-24 (on top of the additional £2.3 billion already announced by the Conservative government).
• Mentions mental health 15 times