Nicky Morgan MP 180The Conservative Party has outlined what it would do to improve services for people with mental ill health, if it were elected to govern at the upcoming general election.

The existing commitment to put mental health services on a par with physical health is reaffirmed, with a promise to go further, including ensuring there are therapists in every part of the country providing treatment for those who need it.

In addition, the manifesto says the Conservatives are increasing funding for mental health care. This is not expanded upon, however. But, in the last budget before Parliament was dissolved, there was a commitment to boost the funding of children’s mental health services by £1.25 billion over the next five years to help develop services.

The manifesto also says that a Conservative government would enforce the new access and waiting time standards for people experiencing mental ill health, including children and young people.

As well as this, a Conservative government would ensure that women have access to mental health support during and after pregnancy, while strengthening the health visiting programme for new mothers.

Elsewhere, the Conservatives pledge to end the practice of using police cells as ‘places of safety’ for those experiencing a mental health crisis by ensuring proper provision of health and community-based places of safety.

To read what the Labour Party has pledged to do for people with mental ill health see www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/labour-make-manifesto-commitments-to-improve-mental-health-services.aspx