Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies ( IAPT ) programme has one principal aim, to support Primary Care Trusts in implementing National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. At present, only a quarter of the 6 million people in the UK with these conditions are in treatment, with debilitating effects on society.

On World Mental Health Day 2007, Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced substantial new funding for Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services over the next three years

  • £33 million for 2008/9
  • a further £70 million to a total of £103 million in 2009/10
  • a further £70 million to a total of £173 million in 2010/11

This funding will allow

  • in 2008/09 34 Primary Care Trusts to implement IAPT services, with more to follow in the next two years
  • regional training programmes to deliver 3,600 newly trained therapists with an appropriate skill mix and supervision arrangements by 2010/11
  • 900,000 more people to access treatment, with half of them moving to recovery and 25,000 fewer on sick pay and benefits, by 2010/11.

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme began in 2006 with Demonstration sites in Doncaster and Newham focusing on improving access to psychological therapies services for adults of working age.

In 2007, 11 IAPT Pathfinders began to explore the specific benefits of services to vulnerable groups.

  • Children and young people 
  • Black and Minority Ethnic communities
  • Older people
  • Perinatal care
  • Offenders
  • Long term conditions
  • Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Through routine collection of outcome measures, IAPT services have shown the following benefits for people receiving services

  • Better health and wellbeing
  • High levels of satisfaction with the service received
  • More choice and better accessibility to clinically effective evidence-based services
  • Helping people stay employed and able to participate in the activities of daily living

For further information and the latest updates, please visit the IAPT website at www.iapt.nhs.uk

Geraldine Strathdee, chair, Darzi regional mental health clinical leads group

New Horizons tells us that mental health isn’t just about what mental health services can do when someone falls ill; it’s about society as a whole changing and working to prevent mental ill health and sustain mental well-being. It also asks how can we end this separation between physical and mental health and work together, because science tells us very clearly that separating mental and physical health doesn’t meet people’s healthcare needs.

 

Visit the NMHDU New Horizons Section

New Horizons Website

Visit the Department of Health New Horizons Website

Observer Article Response

This statement sets out the corrections to The Observer article (4 October 2009) Flagship mental health scheme faces cutbacks.

There were significant inaccuracies in the Observer article and it is important that all stakeholders understand the true position of the programme.

Read the full statement here

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