Centre for Mental Health

@centreformh

Speaking up for social justice in mental health. Find out more

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Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 19h

Racism is toxic to mental health for people from racialised communities. And it's worsened by an increasingly hostile political climate. Our report, Shifting power, says change must happen at population level. ➡️ Fund community-led support. www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications...

Icons representing aspects of everyday life - schools, sports, college, work, conversation. Text: Racism is a daily stress harming mental health at every stage of life

Icon representing two people talking. Text: To prevent mental health problems, services need to adopt anti-racist approaches. Public health must embrace system change, not just individual level interventions.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 1d

More than a decade after Imprisonment for Public Protection was abolished, 2,000 people remain under its shadow. Dr Sarah Markham makes the case for a resentencing review for every remaining IPP prisoner. Read here: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/resolving-an... #IPP #CriminalJustice #PrisonReform

More than a decade after the IPP sentence was abolished, around 2,000 people continue to live under its shadow. Some remain imprisoned years beyond the minimum term imposed by the courts, while others have been released but remain subject to indefinite licence conditions... This uncertainty is not simply frustrating; it can be psychologically damaging.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 2d

Deeply worrying report in the Guardian: Two thirds of NHS mental health trusts in England are having to plan cuts. Mental health gets <9% of NHS funding for 20% of need - and is asked for extra "efficiency savings" too. With the new mental health strategy, Government has a chance to turn this around

Text of accompanying asset: It's deeply worrying to see reports that two-thirds of NHS mental health trusts in England are having to make plans to cut services to make ends meet. The Government must seize the opportunity to turn the nation's mental health around and ensure essential services are sustained.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 6d

For someone experiencing psychosis for the first time, support in early months can shape the rest of their life. Our new briefing looks at what works in Early Intervention in Psychosis services - with important implications for policy and practice 🔗 www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications...

Text: Early Intervention in Psychosis services provide community-based treatment and support to people during their first episode of psychosis. New research from the EXTEND project has important implications for policy and practice.

Text: Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services typically work with people experiencing psychosis symptoms, and their families or carers, for up to three years. They offer a range of interventions that are recommended by NICE including: Case management with a specified ‘care coordinator’; Pharmacotherapy; Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis; Family intervention; Physical health assessments and intervention; Employment and education support; Carer support.

Text: Key research findings. Gaps in support lead to poorer service user outcomes - EIP services that offer the full range of interventions that are recommended in current guidance provide better outcomes; People from racialised communities have worse outcomes from EIP services. This is common in mental health services and reflects deeply entrenched racial inequities in both society and the NHS; Supporting people through the transition to community mental health or general practice, centred on a person’s needs and wishes, is crucial to help people to move on successfully; Working closely with and supporting carers of people experiencing psychosis helps improve their recovery.

Text: Recommendations. The Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework must be resourced and sustained to help improve outcomes for racialised communities; The Modern Service Framework for serious mental illness should set out clear expectations for EIP services; Services must meet quality standards and be fully resourced.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 6d

100 more community mental health centres for England. A very welcome step on the road to better and faster support. Andy Bell welcomes the announcement, but urges caution over untested plans for mental health emergency departments. Read our response: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/item/ce...

A father and three children are walking in a residential backstreet. Text: Plans to create 100 more community mental health centres across England are a welcome step on the road to better and faster support. Community mental health centres have the potential to make mental health support easier and faster to access, and to be part of their local community, not separate from it.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 9d

Social security is often treated as a "cost of failure" - a drain to be minimised. But from a mental health perspective, it's exactly the opposite. A mentally healthier society must have a place for social security. Latest blog from @andybell-centremh.bsky.social 👇 bit.ly/4fAyTsr

Text: "A mentally healthier society must have a place for social security: a place that values its role in building a just and fair society." Andy Bell

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 12d

Financial insecurity, debt, unstable housing, and the complexity of the benefits system are not peripheral issues for people with mental health problems - they are drivers of poor mental health. We're calling on the Government to fund embedded welfare advice in every NHS mental health service.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 13d

Group work allows us to acknowledge different views and perspectives without forcing resolution, to notice power dynamics and emotions, and to work in ways that promote honest discussions. Find out more about our approach to group work & work with us👇 www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/how-we-work/...

A group of 6 people standing in a circle in a bright office, smiling and chatting. Quote text from David Woodhead, Associate Director of Research and group work facilitator: “Group work brings people together across roles and silos, enabling shared understanding and collective problem-solving. When systems are under pressure, it offers a way to do more with less, not by cutting corners, but by deepening connection.”

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 14d

For people with mental health difficulties, social needs are just as important as clinical ones, and social workers are essential members of mental health teams. It's vital that mental health is at the heart of the 'big conversation on care', and that voices of lived experience are heard and valued

Text: Centre for Mental Health warmly welcomes the Government’s call for a 'big conversation on care'. Social care and social work are a fundamental part of mental health support for people of all ages. It's vital that mental health is at the heart of the 'big conversation', and policy solutions consider mental health social care as much as other aspects.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 20d

Our latest guest blog by Grace Ward asks: what has media coverage of mental health cost us - and what could we do differently?👇 www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/representing...

Text: "With lived experience voices often underrepresented or absent in the media, I question how this shapes decisions made about mental health politically and in the minds of the public...I fear we are missing out on balanced coverage that represents a range of experiences." Grace Ward

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 23d

Andy Burnham addressed the country in his first speech as Prime Minister this afternoon, and we are delighted he committed to more mental health support for young people & to 'a preventative state'. Read statement in response from @andybell-centremh.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/posts/andy-b...

Text: We warmly welcome the new Prime Minister's commitment to expand mental health support as part of his drive to 'bring back hope'. We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to a 'preventative state' that invests in success. Plans for a new mental health strategy can embed prevention across government."

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 28d

The report looks at how bringing together different disciplines - alongside the knowledge and perspectives of people with lived experience of mental health problems - can create new solutions and respond to key challenges in the sector 👇 www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications...

Quote text from Prof Clare Mackay: This set of disorders or behaviours […] involves a whole range of aspects of what it is to be human. There is no single discipline that could possibly cover the understanding and management of these behaviours. Case study: Body-focused repetitive behaviours

Icon image of two people with overlapping speech buubles. Text: We need a collective effort from both funders and research leaders to expand interdisciplinary research and find solutions to some of the key challenges in the mental health sector.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· 28d

1/2: We need to understand the complexities of people's lives to find solutions to mental health problems. Our new report, Inquiry into interdisciplinary mental health research commissioned by @nihr.bsky.social is a rapid review of interdisciplinary research practices in mental health.

Text: We need to understand the complexities of peoples’ lives to find solutions to mental health problems. Our new report explores the potential of interdisciplinary research for mental health.

Quote text from Prof Fernyhough: “In mental health, you have an extraordinary opportunity to make lived experience of mental health issues absolutely essential to the work you do... So that is a fantastic opportunity for people to come together from different backgrounds and positions of expertise to create new knowledge.” Case study: Hearing the Voice

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jul 10

We've called for a cross-government mental health strategy for years. Now it's happening - but getting it right is the real struggle. A mentally healthier future is possible - if we fight for it now. Will you chip in to help us push for it? www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/support-us/d...

Text: a mentally healthier future is possible - if we fight for it now

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jul 6

Have your say on England's new mental health strategy. We've long called for this - now Government wants evidence from people with real knowledge of mental health. Our guide breaks down what to cover and how. ⏰But hurry - deadline this Friday 10 July www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/government-m...

Text: cross-government mental health strategy call for evidence. Our guide includes an overview of our submission, and info on how to submit evidence yourself. This is a chance to change the way we are governed, by putting our mental health at the heart of policymaking.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jul 5

This #ResearchAppreciationDay, David Woodhead reflects on coproduction in mental health research: the messy, slow, essential work of sharing power with the people services are meant to serve. 🔗 Read David's blog here: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/the-torn-age...

A woman stands at a flipchart, pen in hand. Quote text from David Woodhead: Genuine coproduction means involving people not only in consultation but in shaping questions, designing methods, interpreting findings, and sharing outcomes. It strengthens inclusivity, ensures research is meaningful to those it affects, and produces outcomes with greater impact and legitimacy

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jul 2

There is inadequate data about who uses what sort of AI tools within different demographic and socioeconomic groups. The paper calls for more research into potential harm being generated amongst the most vulnerable users: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications...

Text: More research is needed. There is inadequate data about who uses what sort of AI tools within different demographic and socioeconomic groups. Significant gaps remain in relation to deprivation, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, severe mental illness and trauma populations. We need more research into potential harm being generated amongst the most vulnerable of users.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jul 2

The rapid expansion of AI in mental health has outpaced the development of mechanisms to protect people from harm. Without proper regulation, content, quality and safety are at risk. While AI mental health tools may improve access and affordability for some, benefits will not be distributed evenly.

Text: Lack of regulation and need for patient-centred policy. The rapid expansion of AI mental health chatbots and self-guided AI systems has outpaced the development of robust mechanisms to protect people from harm. AI models aren’t held to strict medical standards and regulation – the existing mechanisms in the UK weren’t designed for adaptive conversational AI systems capable of shaping emotional experience and human behaviour over time. Without proper regulation, information content, quality and safety are at risk.

Text: Increasing inequality. AI mental health tools may improve access and affordability for some people. But benefits will not be distributed evenly and research shows that AI could exacerbate inequalities more widely. The risks associated with generative AI mental health systems may fall disproportionately on those who are already vulnerable. Large language models absorb patterns that contain forms of structural discrimination. When used in contexts such as mental health support, these biases can be damaging.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jul 2

1/3: Patient empowerment expert David Gilbert has sought help and advice from AI for his own mental health problems. In a new paper, he assesses the research on how the huge growth in the use of AI mental health tools can put people at risk and increase inequality. 👇https://bit.ly/3ReXKbN

Text: What is the impact of AI tools in mental health self-care? A new discussion paper explores AI mental health chatbots, inequality and the risks of self-guided care David Gilbert

Text: I’m a mental health service user and one of millions of guinea pigs - intrigued by the benefits but concerned about the harms of AI mental health chatbots. I wanted to find out more and was shocked... We are in thrall to this wave of tech. We have to balance that and do more to safeguard people, particularly those from marginalised groups who are at disproportionate risk of harm.” David Gilbert, Director of InHealth Associates

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 29

The Children’s Commissioner annual report, published today, finds over a million children in England were referred to children and young people’s mental health services last year. Our response 👇 www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/item/re...

Text graphic that reads: The number of children with a referral to mental health services has reached over a million. This equates to about 1 in 10 children and is almost double the rate of 564,000 children in 2018-19. (Children’s Commissioner, 2026)

Text graphic that reads: The new cross government mental health strategy presents a huge opportunity to make children and young people’s mental health a national priority. It must include action to promote and protect mental health throughout our lives, including help for new parents, mentally healthier schools, and early support hubs in every community.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 25

Centre for Mental Health welcomes the publication of draft legislation to ban conversion practices in England and Wales. This is a vital and long overdue first step, and we urge the Government to ensure the legislation is fully trans-inclusive: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

The draft legislation to ban conversion practices is a vital and long overdue first step. We welcome this legislation and call on the Government to move forward without delay, and hope that opponents don't try to wreck, delay or weaken the proposals.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 22

Two years into this Parliament, the Government has made some progress on mental health but investment still lags behind. We urge the Government to prioritise mental health amid political uncertainty. The nation's mental health cannot wait. www.linkedin.com/posts/centre...

Text: The resignation of Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister comes at a crucial time for the nation’s mental health. We urge the Government to prioritise mental health and not allow political uncertainty to get in the way of recent progress.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 19

Pride and shame are not opposites. They sit close together. Shame does not simply fade. Lateral violence is not just a cause of poor mental health. It is also a symptom of deeper, older harms. David Woodhead for #PrideMonth on Pride and its shadows www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/pride-and-it...

A young person in a baseball cap and draped in a rainbow flag is alone in a crowd, looking off to the right. Quote text from David Woodhead: Pride and shame are not opposites. They sit close together. Shame does not vanish the moment we claim our place in the world. It turns inward and sideways. And when it lands on others in our own communities, it can cause real harm.”

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 16

1/2: 139 MPs have now signed an Early Day Motion against the Equality and Human Rights Commission Code of Practice. We share the concerns of MPs about the impact of the code of practice on trans and non-binary people as they access essential services. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Text: Our thoughts go out to the many trans and non-binary people in the UK who will have felt significant distress, fear and upset since the publication of the EHRC Code of Practice. Such a potentially life-changing piece of

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 11

We warmly welcomed the Government’s announcement last month to create a cross-government mental health strategy for England. We will be submitting evidence and are encouraging anyone who has knowledge about mental health to do so too. Our new guide outlines the areas we'll cover: bit.ly/3Sj9cTU

Quote text from Andy Bell: "A cross-government strategy for mental health is an essential building block for a mentally healthier future and we warmly welcome the Government’s commitment to creating this. The plan is a chance to change the way we are governed, by putting our mental health at the heart of policymaking”

Text: We have long called for a cross-government mental health plan. Our submission to the Government’s call for evidence will set out what steps can be taken to make the mental health strategy as effective, sustainable and equitable as possible.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 8

2/2: This briefing highlights key themes & insights that emerged, emphasising how service provision for ADHD is and has been grossly inadequate, and has led to many people experiencing significant harm over decades. Read our briefing and recommendations for change: bit.ly/4un1JRc

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 8

1/2: Earlier this year, together with James' Place Charity we convened an online roundtable with experts by experience, doctors, representatives of third sector organisations and researchers around ADHD and how it intersects with mental health, with a particular focus on suicide prevention.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· Jun 2

Along with other leading mental health organisations including @mind.org.uk & @rethinkcharity.bsky.social we've written to Bridget Phillipson and the Chair of the EHRC to raise concerns about the EHRC Code of Practice published last week. Find out more and read our letter bit.ly/49zoTMC

Text: The EHRC Code of Practice will likely have an impact on mental health and may make trans and non-binary people seeking support for mental distress or mental illness feel unsafe and unsupported. We have called for a calm, considered approach to implementation.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· May 28

Alan Milburn's interim Young People and Work report is out. We welcome it as an opportunity for evidence-based action. And we welcome that, for once, it doesn't blame young people for the crisis they're facing. [1/3] www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/item/ac...

Text: Years of inaction across health, education and employment services have let young people down. Young people want to learn, work and contribute. With the right support, we know this is possible.

Action must be based on evidence of what works. Investment in better health, education and employment support is vital, but it must not be at the expense of the least well off through cuts in social security entitlements.

Centre for Mental Health@centreformh· May 27

As the consultation on children & social media closes, our latest blog challenges us to look beyond our screens for the causes of rising mental distress among children & young people. Social media does matter, but we must look at the bigger picture www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/children-and...