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'The pursuit of happiness' - calls for social perscribing

Date uploaded: July 21, 2014

Think tank the CentreForum has issued a call for social prescribing, such as arts on prescription, to be made available in every GP practice in the country. Chaired by former minister for mental health, Paul Burstow MP, the CentreForum Mental Health Commission concludes its 12 month study on the state of wellbeing in England by identifying five key priorities between now and 2020.

The Commission's final report titled 'The pursuit of happiness' calls on policymakers to:

  • Establish the mental wellbeing of the nation or the “pursuit of happiness” as a clear and measurable goal of government.
  • Roll out a National Wellbeing Programme to promote mutual support, self-care and recovery, and reduce the crippling stigma that too often goes hand in hand with mental ill health.
  • Prioritise investment in the mental health of children and young people right from conception.
  • Make places of work mental health friendly with government leading the way as an employer.
  • Better equip primary care to identify and treat mental health problems, closing the treatment gap that leaves one in four of the adult population needlessly suffering from depression and anxiety and 1-2% experiencing a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia.

The report also calls for parity of funding for mental health which currently receives 13% of NHS spend in England but accounts for 23% of demand. It is estimated that £13 billion is overspent every year on dealing with the physical health consequences of this unmet need.

To download the final report click here or to download 'call for evidence summary of key findings' click here.