Thank you for contacting me about the independent Mental Health Taskforce.
I agree that for too long there has not been enough focus on mental health care in this country and I know that the Government wants to deliver true equality between mental and physical health for the first time. The Prime Minister has recently announced a new approach to mental health based on recommendations from the Taskforce. Thousands of people with mental health conditions will be supported to find or return to work, meaning they have the opportunity to get on in life.
The Government is already providing an extra £1 billion a year for mental health care to make sure it gets the attention it needs. This will help support one million more people with mental health problems to access high quality care that they are not getting today and action will be taken to treat potentially debilitating mental health conditions early on through improved access to care.
The Prime Minister has also met with business leaders to highlight the need for a shift in attitude to people with mental health conditions in the workplace and to agree new workplace standards...