Health Minister Alison McGovern announces plans for a new mental health strategy
Health Minister Alison McGovern announced that the Department of Health and Social Care will soon publish a new mental health strategy, marking the first such plan in 15 years. Speaking at the Youth Access Conference in Camden on 9 November 2026, McGovern highlighted that the proportion of young people with a mental health condition has increased from one in six to one in four. To address these needs, the government will allocate £16.3 billion to mental health services this year, an increase of £180 million compared to the previous year. The plan includes expanding mental health support teams to all schools by 2029, setting up 59 mental health emergency departments, and providing £343 million for 100 community-based mental health centres. Additionally, over £20 million in top-up funding since 2024 has supported 24 early support hubs. For young people and families, these measures aim to reduce long waiting times and offer early support within local communities.
What was announced
Health Minister Alison McGovern spoke at the Youth Access Conference in Camden on 9 November 2026. She announced that the Department of Health and Social Care will soon publish a national mental health strategy. This will be the government's first new strategy on mental health in 15 years.
McGovern outlined existing spending commitments and targets for services:
- Total spending on mental health services will reach £16.3 billion this year, an increase of £180 million on last year.
- Mental health support teams will be present in every school by 2029.
- The government has planned 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments.
- A sum of £343 million will fund 100 community-based mental health centres.
- Over £20 million in top-up funding has gone to 24 early support hubs since 2024, including £7 million this year for at least 30,000 additional interventions.
McGovern noted that one in four young people today has a mental health condition, compared to one in six when she was growing up. She also shared her own history of anxiety and panic attacks following her father's cancer diagnosis in 1992.
What it means
The Department of Health and Social Care is directing funding toward community services and dedicated crisis spaces. Setting up 59 mental health emergency departments is intended to keep people in mental health crisis out of general hospital emergency rooms.
Expanding school support teams and early hubs aims to assist young people before they reach a crisis or face long waiting lists. The minister emphasized that access to work, education, sports, and culture plays a role alongside clinical care.
What the announcement does not tell us
The announcement does not give an exact publication date for the new strategy. It does not explain how the planned 59 emergency departments and 100 community centres will be staffed. Additionally, the speech does not outline specific locations for these facilities or explain how progress will be measured.
How this was written
This analysis was written with AI from the official announcement below, using only facts that announcement states. The quoted wording is gov.uk: Health and Social Care’s own. Always check the original before acting on anything here.
Minister McGovern delivered the keynote speech at the Youth Access Conference in Camden
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