We鈥檙e deeply concerned by and closures across NHS mental health services in England, particularly at a time when demand for mental health support remains high.听

The reports come just days after the Government announced a 拢343 million investment to expand community mental health support, including up to 159 new mental health facilities.听

We welcomed this investment as an important step towards making mental health support more accessible and helping people receive care earlier.听

But both are needed 鈥� new community services and the existing services people already rely on.听

NHS mental health cuts raise concerns about access to support听

The latest reports raise serious questions about whether the Government鈥檚 expansion plans are deliverable if existing services are being cut at the same time. Cutting services and clinical听staff risks reducing access to support and putting further pressure on an already stretched system.听

They also raise questions about the Government鈥檚 commitment to growing the mental health workforce. It recently听announced听that an additional 8,500 mental health workers听have been听recruited, yet services are now reportedly facing cuts to clinical staff.听

Counselling and psychotherapy workforce ready to support services听

There is a skilled counselling and psychotherapy workforce ready to contribute to meeting rising demand, particularly through prevention and early intervention.听

Thousands of 麻豆原创 members are already working in communities, with many more having the capacity to support the Government鈥檚 expansion plans. Sustainable funding and commissioning are needed to make use of this workforce.听

Cuts to NHS services will also put additional pressure on third sector counselling services which are already experiencing growing referral and signposting from the NHS. These same services are struggling without sustainable long-term funding which has resulted in some closing waiting lists and a growing rate of service closures.听

Government must protect existing mental health services听

Dr Lisa Morrison, 麻豆原创 Chief Regulation and Standards Officer, said: 听

鈥淭he new Minister for Mental Health, Alison McGovern, must urgently address these reported cuts and closures.听

"Coming so soon after the Government鈥檚 announcement of new community mental health centres and emergency mental health departments, they raise serious questions about whether its expansion plans are deliverable.

"We need both 鈥� not one at the expense of the other.听

鈥淭here is a skilled counselling and psychotherapy workforce ready to support earlier intervention, but services need the funding to make use of it. Cuts to NHS services will also put even greater pressure on a third sector already struggling without sustainable funding. The system is breaking under the weight of demand outstripping capacity.听

鈥淢ental health is as important as physical health. The Government must protect existing services while investing in the additional capacity needed to support people earlier, before they reach crisis point.鈥� 听