Wednesday 17th July 2024
Today the UK Government has committed to modernise the Mental Health Act, reduce NHS waiting times and give mental health the same attention as physical health during the King’s Speech.
Tom Quinn, Beat’s Director of External Affairs said:
‘We’re delighted that the UK Government has committed to reducing NHS waiting times, which will help people affected by serious health conditions to access the help they need quickly. As the UK’s eating disorder charity, we know that accessing treatment as soon as possible leads to the best chances of making a full recovery, so we’re very pleased to see this commitment.
‘We’re also very encouraged that the Government will focus on preventing serious health conditions and ensuring that mental health is treated as seriously as physical health. But it's important that this includes dedicating funding for mental health prevention, treatment and research to ensure that this commitment can become a reality.
‘1.25 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder; it’s crucial that they are considered within the Mental Health Act and that specific eating disorder support is included. The Government must also take care to consider the mental health of people across the UK when creating every health policy.
‘While it’s brilliant that the Government will commit to improving mental health provision for young people, it’s important to remember that eating disorders affect people of all ages and that adults are too often left behind when it comes to getting the treatment they deserve. The Government must also commit to publishing adult eating disorder waiting times so that we can understand the scale of the problem and help adults to access support as soon as possible.’
Want to find out more?
Check out Mind’s overview of the Mental Health Act and what modernising this Act could mean for people affected by mental illnesses in the UK.