UK government mental health strategy: what it means for patients

On 15 May 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care launched a call for evidence to shape the new NHS mental health strategy 2026 - described as a once-in-a-generation cross-government plan. The announcement arrived during Mental Health Awareness Week and has been widely welcomed by clinicians and advocacy organisations.

But over 1.7 million people are currently estimated to be on mental health waiting lists in England.^[1] The strategy contains no immediate measures to address that backlog. This article sets out what the strategy actually contains, what it does not, and what patients can do in the meantime.

What the strategy is trying to do

The government's stated ambition is a fundamental shift away from crisis-led care towards earlier intervention and prevention. The strategy forms part of the wider 10 Year Health Plan for England and is intended to cover mental health care for both children and adults.

Key commitments already announced alongside the strategy include:

• NHS mental health spending forecast to increase to £16.1 billion^[2] for 2026/27
• 8,500 additional mental health workers hired since July 2024,^[3] described by government as meeting its target three years ahead of schedule
• £473 million^[2] allocated over the next four years for mental health emergency departments, community-based support, and schools and colleges
• The Mental Health Act 2025,^[4] which received Royal Assent in December 2025, gives patients greater choice and control over their treatment and limits the use of detention for autistic people and those with learning disabilities - though full implementation is phased and major reforms are not expected to begin until 2028

The strategy will also be informed by an independent review into the prevalence of and support for mental health conditions, ADHD, and autism, chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy alongside Professor Gillian Baird and Sir Simon Wessely.^[5] The review published an interim report in March 2026; its final findings are expected in summer 2026.

What it does not yet contain

The strategy is still being shaped. The call for evidence is not a policy document - it is a consultation designed to gather evidence before a full strategy is published.

That means several critical questions remain unanswered.

There are no confirmed targets for reducing community mental health waiting times. There is no published timeline for when the final strategy will be released. And there is no specific commitment on how the backlog of people currently waiting for care will be addressed, including around 735,000 people with open referrals for ADHD assessments in England.^[6]

The Centre for Mental Health has noted that a similar call for evidence was launched in 2022 under the previous government, gathered thousands of responses, and was subsequently shelved. That context matters. The current strategy has cross-government backing and is linked to the 10 Year Health Plan, but patients who have been waiting a long time are reasonably cautious about what commitments will follow.

Who is most affected by NHS mental health waiting times

Demand for mental health services has risen sharply, particularly among children and young people.^[7] Community mental health waits can stretch to nearly two years for those who have been waiting the longest.^[8]

People waiting for ADHD and autism assessments are among the most significantly affected. NHS England has acknowledged that waiting times are "very long, measured in years, and are increasing across England," with some areas reporting adult waits of up to eight years.^[9] These groups are explicitly mentioned in the strategy, and a separate cross-government autism strategy is also planned.

The strategy acknowledges, without yet resolving, a pattern that many patients already know firsthand: poor mental health does not wait for a strategy to be published.

How to access NHS mental health support now

While the strategy develops, there are practical steps worth knowing about.

NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) offers access to psychological therapies for conditions including depression and anxiety. Waiting times vary by area, but self-referral is available in most parts of England without a GP referral.^[10]

NHS Right to Choose allows patients who have been referred by a GP for a first outpatient appointment to choose any clinically appropriate, NHS-contracted provider in England. It has been widely used for ADHD assessments, though access varies significantly by Integrated Care Board area. Some ICBs have paused or restricted Right to Choose referrals for ADHD and autism. If you are seeking an assessment, it is worth speaking to your GP promptly about what is available in your area.

Your GP remains the most important starting point for accessing specialist mental health support on the NHS. If you feel your concerns have not been taken seriously, you have the right to ask for a second opinion or a referral to a different service.^[11]

How to respond to the call for evidence

The call for evidence closes at 11:59pm on 10 July 2026. It is open to anyone, including patients and carers, not just clinicians and service providers.

Responding is straightforward. The official consultation document is published at gov.uk.^[12] It asks for examples of what good mental health support looks like, and where the system falls short. Patient experience and lived experience of accessing care are directly relevant.

If you have been on a long waiting list, experienced gaps between services, or had difficulty navigating the system, your response could directly shape what the strategy prioritises.

The core issue remains access

The NHS continues to provide valued mental health care. The challenge is that finding and accessing the right support is not always straightforward, and the gap between what the system promises and what patients can access varies considerably depending on where you live and what you need.

A strategy that addresses prevention and earlier intervention is worth having. But until patients can clearly understand what services are available, how to access them, and what their rights are along the way, the strategy's ambitions will remain out of reach for many.

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