Mental health treatment would be available within a month for all who need it under a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer is to announce.
The Labour leader will say that 8,500 new staff would help one million extra people access mental health treatment – not purely an initial assessment – which Sir Keir will say is “one of the most urgent needs of our time”.
The goal would come in the form of a new NHS target, with mental health hubs for children and young people in every community and specialist mental health support in every school.
One of the urgent needs of our time is mental health
Sir Keir Starmer
While the policy would cost £1.016 billion – by what would theoretically be the last year of Labour’s first term in office in 2028-29, if they were to win the next election – the party said it would be funded by closing tax loopholes and removing the VAT exemption from private schools.
Sir Keir will say: “One of the urgent needs of our time is mental health.
“Labour will guarantee that support will be available in less than a month and offer treatment to a million more people each year who need it.
“We’ll make sure children and young people get early help, putting specialist support in every school and a mental health hub in every community.
“This is prevention in action. Helping young people, looking after their well-being.”
