Paul Farmer to chair mental health taskforce

NHS England CEO Simon Stevens has launched a mental health taskforce to develop a new five year national strategy for mental health, for people of all ages across England. 

The Taskforce will be chaired by Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer and made up of health and community leaders and experts in the field of mental health including specialist doctors, charities, service users and their families. 

Paul Farmer, CEO of Mind, said:

“Our taskforce will aim to drive change in the delivery of services so they are first-rate for all ages. Stigma around mental health is starting to reduce as professionals and the public begin to realise that we must treat mental health with the same level of respect and importance as physical health."

"This is a chance to turn the growing awareness of mental health into action and effective delivery across England so that people can get the right help at the right time, investing in preventing problems becoming crises.”

Simon Stevens, CEO of NHS England, said:

“The tide of public opinion is shifting in favour of mental health and wellbeing. People are rightly no longer willing to put up with mental health as the poor relation to the rest of the health service. That’s a hugely powerful impetus for improvement, creating the opportunity for this Taskforce to chart a shared direction for us all over the next five years."