Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health and MP for Manchester Withington Jeff Smith has spoken at the launch of a new parliamentary report calling for increased investment in mental health services.

The report, published today, heard from service users, carers and experts in the field over a 6 month-long inquiry.  The report focused on the progress in implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, a 5-year plan for the NHS published in February 2016.

The report heard that growing numbers of people who experience a mental health crisis are having to visit A&E or are detained for their own safety because NHS services to help them are deteriorating. It said that while there had been notable progress in perinatal mental health and those suffering with psychosis, people in crisis were still waiting too long to access core mental health services.

Commenting on the report, Jeff said:

“During this inquiry, we heard directly from service users and carers. They told us that people in mental health crisis are waiting far too long to access overstretched services.

The Prime Minister’s warm words on mental health are not enough. They must be backed up with urgent investment to make sure people in crisis can get the support they need when they need it.”

Dr Andrew Moore, a spokesman for the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: 

“The neglect of core mental health services, which form the backbone of secondary mental health services, is distressing to see.”

Brian Dow, the Deputy Chief Executive of the charity Rethink Mental Illness, said:

“People are being tipped into crisis waiting for treatment. That means more lives are at risk and more strain on the system.”