Package of support will overhaul approach to preventing mental illness, building on record investment in mental health services.

Every new teacher will be trained in how to spot the signs of mental health issues, under a new prevention plan unveiled by the Prime Minister today (Monday 17 June).

Theresa May will pledge better access to education, training and support across communities as part of an overhaul of society’s approach to mental illness.

The wide-ranging package of measures will make sure people have the confidence and skills they need to identify mental health issues before they become critical, particularly in young people.

Today’s announcement means schools, social workers, local authorities and healthcare services will receive extra support to make sure people know how to promote good mental health in the same way that they look after physical wellbeing. These measures include:

• training for all new teachers on how to spot the signs of mental health issues, backed up by updated statutory guidance to make clear schools’ responsibilities to protect children’s mental wellbeing
• all 1.2 million NHS staff encouraged to take suicide prevention training from the Zero Suicide Alliance, which we have already committed to support with £2 million of government investment
• support for school mental health leads so they can help children struggling with self-harm and risk of suicide
• access to world-class teaching and training materials for all teachers to use in classrooms to meet the new requirements for mental health education for all primary and secondary pupils
• extra funding to support local authorities to strengthen and deliver local suicide prevention plans so that they better meet the needs of the people they serve
• updated professional standards for social workers across England to increase their knowledge and skills when helping those with mental health issues

Today the Prime Minister will visit a school in South West London to meet with pupils learning about the importance of developing healthy habits for life-long good mental health.

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

Too many of us have seen first-hand the devastating consequences of mental illness, which is why tackling this burning injustice has always been a personal priority for me.

But we should never accept a rise in mental health problems as inevitable.

It’s time to rethink how we tackle this issue, which is why I believe the next great revolution in mental health should be in prevention.

The measures we’ve launched today will make sure at every stage of life, for people of all backgrounds, preventing mental illness gets the urgent attention it deserves.

Further plans to drive a step-change in public awareness around looking after your mental health include a new national awareness campaign called Every Mind Matters, launching in October.

From 2020 parents will also get access through the campaign to targeted advice on how to deal with issues like stress, online bullying and self-harm.

Vulnerable people are known to be at greater risk of mental illness, including those who face financial difficulties such as problem debt. Government will launch a new breathing space scheme to provide respite from debt collection while people seek support to help prevent the onset of mental health problems – with special access for those receiving crisis treatment.

As part of this prevention agenda, the Prime Minister has also announced:

• £1 million to the Office of Students for a competition to find innovative new ways to support mental health at universities and colleges
• research following the government’s Children in Need review to build new evidence on the best ways to support children who have faced adversity, abuse and neglect
• greater transparency in how money is spent on mental health services, with a commitment to independent audits to ensure that the funding committed under the NHS Long-Term plan reaches the front line
• support given to new parents from health visitors and other professionals will be modernised to better support their babies’ behavioural and emotional development

Today’s package of changes will also fast track action against undignified and unequal treatment for those in mental crisis – including by committing to overhaul the Mental Health Act to make it fit for modern society.

This legislation will include banning once and for all the use of police cells as a place to detain people experiencing mental illness, following the Prime Minister’s work to stamp out this practice in the treatment of under-18s.

Today she has also confirmed that a White Paper will be published before the end of the year in response to Sir Simon Wessely’s review of the Mental Health Act, setting out the steps taken to tackle unequal treatment faced by ethnic minority groups.

Professor Sir Simon Wessely, Chair, Independent Review of the Mental Health Act, said:

Theresa May deserves credit for drawing attention to those with the most severe mental illnesses yet who are the most overlooked.

The recommendations of the review of mental health legislation that she commissioned have been warmly welcomed from all sides but now need to be acted on.

Today’s announcements are a further welcome step towards that goal.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, the mental health charity, said:

We welcome the sustained momentum from the Prime Minister and government to improving support for people with mental health problems.

It’s particularly positive to see such priority given to young people’s mental health – our recent work in schools has shown us the true scale of the need and, as most mental health problems start in childhood, decent support as early as possible is key.

We also welcome progress on the Mental Health Act review.

Finally, it’s encouraging to see government acknowledge the enormous impact that financial problems can have on mental health, and recognition that improving the wellbeing of the nation is about more than getting NHS services right alone.

Professor Wendy Burn, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists said:

We strongly welcome today’s announcements from the Prime Minister. Her commitment to parity of esteem for mental health will lead to better care for people with a mental illness.

We fully support the need for a greater investment in prevention so that people can live happier, healthier and more independent lives.

The Independent Review of the Mental Health Act was an important step in making sure that people get the support and care they need when they are at their most vulnerable. It is good to see the start of the implementation of the recommendations from the review particularly in the area of equality.

But success will depend on continued commitment from future prime ministers to drive sustained investment and improvement across government departments.

The new measures launched today will build on the largest expansion of mental health services in a generation under the NHS Long-Term Plan.

Today marks one year since the Prime Minister announced a record £33.9 billion a year cash funding boost for the health service, including £2.3 billion more a year in real terms on mental health care to support an extra 345,000 children, at least 380,000 more adults with common mental illnesses, 370,000 adults with serious mental illnesses, and 24,000 more new and expectant mothers. The plan will make sure that funding for mental health services will grow as a share of the NHS budget.

As Loneliness Awareness Week begins today, a new campaign launched by Loneliness Minister Mims Davies is helping to tackle the stigma of loneliness and encourage people to speak out.

‘Let’s Talk Loneliness’ brings together charities, organisations and businesses including The Marmalade Trust, the Co-op Foundation, the British Red Cross, the Campaign to End Loneliness, Mind, Public Health England and the Jo Cox Foundation to help people talk about their feelings.

It comes as a new poll shows that not wanting to burden others is the main barrier to people talking about their feelings of loneliness.

The new YouGov research also shows:

• People in cities surveyed had a higher incidence of reporting feeling lonely than the UK overall (56% v. 44%).
• 25% of adults have reported feeling lonely on weekends.
• Over the weekend, the evenings are the most likely time for people to feel lonely (16%).

The survey also showed that young people aged 18-24 are most likely to say they have felt lonely (75%). In contrast, 63% of people aged 55 and over said they never feel lonely.

Previous research shows nearly three quarters (74%) of people said when they felt lonely, they didn’t tell anyone despite most having someone they could count on.

Minister for Loneliness Mims Davies said:

Loneliness is one of the biggest health challenges our country faces. It can affect anyone at any time and its impact is in line with smoking or obesity. But we can only begin to help one another if we feel able to understand, recognise and talk about it.

Let’s Talk Loneliness’ will encourage us all to engage with this issue, speak up without stigma, spot the signs of loneliness and help build more meaningful connections so people feel less isolated.

The campaign, a commitment from the government’s Loneliness Strategy, is being launched today with a short film ‘Less of a Lonely Place’. It features the voices of young people from across the UK talking about their personal experiences of loneliness, brought to life by young animators. Adverts for the campaign that show loneliness as an emotion that comes with being human and one we should talk about will be presented on 20 big screens in cities across the country this week.

As part of Loneliness Awareness Week, the government has also announced it is partnering with the Co-op Foundation to match-fund a new £1.6 million initiative that supports activity in community spaces to promote social connections.

The government is also investing £1 million in a Tech to Connect Challenge Prize. Applications are open from the 26th June 2019 to the 7th August 2019. The Prize, which will be designed and delivered by charitable foundation Nesta, aims to find tech solutions to the problem of social isolation. Charities and social enterprises are urged to apply as up to £500,000 will be up for grabs to incentivise social tech innovation. The £1 million prize will be split into £500,000 of business support from Nesta with the other £500,000 being awarded as cash prizes to the best entrants.

Founder of the Marmalade Trust Amy Perrin said:

People rarely talk about loneliness, despite it being a very common feeling. When people do talk about loneliness, it’s often in negative terms – something that is ‘suffered from’ or perhaps to say; ‘I admit it, I’m lonely’.

Our wish is to change this habit of loneliness being seen as a negative, weak or hopeless thing. Though it can be an uncomfortable feeling, with the right support it can be temporary and can in fact be framed positively – a blank canvas on which currently lonely individuals can fill their lives with new friends, new conversations and new experiences.

This awareness and positive support is what Loneliness Awareness Week is all about this year.

Jim Cooke, Head of the Co-op Foundation, said:

Shared spaces for people to meet and socialise are vital for tackling loneliness and helping communities work together to address local challenges. Our match-funding partnership with government will strengthen communities by maximising the potential of spaces where people can connect and co-operate, making an important contribution to Co-op’s wider community work.

Tris Dyson, Executive Director at Nesta Challenges said:

Social isolation is a major public health issue affecting people of any background, age or location. This includes people living with long term conditions and limited mobility, and those facing prejudice due to belief, age, gender, sexuality and ethnicity.

The Tech to Connect Challenge is all about using innovation to tackle social isolation, offering charities, social enterprises and social ventures the funding and expertise to bring their ideas to life. We want to hear from any civil society organisation with a strong idea on how to make a meaningful difference to social isolation.

We will provide guided support to seven finalists, so that they can develop their concepts into working prototypes. By turning the strongest ideas into reality, we will help tackle one of the major challenges facing our society.

Zoe Abrams, British Red Cross Executive Director, Communications and Advocacy said:

As the British Red Cross, we have been leading the way on helping reconnect people with their communities to overcome loneliness and isolation. Our research shows that nearly 1 in 5 people feel lonely always or often, so reducing the stigma around loneliness for people of all ages and backgrounds is an imperative. We hope that by encouraging everyone to talk about it, this campaign will help break down barriers to combating loneliness and empower those struggling to reach out for support.

Notes for Editors

For more information call DCMS Press Office on 0207 211 2210

Find out more about our Let’s Talk Loneliness campaign

The Marmalade Trust launched the first Loneliness Awareness Week (LAW) in 2017; to raise awareness of loneliness, and further their aim of making loneliness something that is spoken about openly and normally.

More information about Nesta’s Tech to Connect Challenge Prize.

Co-op Foundation is the Co-op’s charity, helping communities UK-wide work together to make things better. Subscribe to the Co-op Foundation blog for announcements on the Community Spaces Fund.

National figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2114 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 17th – 20th May 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

City figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2264 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 17th – 28th May 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in each city (aged 18+).

Source of 74% stat – campaign research and polling.

Outdoor media specialists Ocean Outdoor are providing space on 20 of their nationwide-network of big screens during Loneliness Awareness Week.

Scotland’s biggest agricultural event gives the rural industries and members of the public the chance to speak to UK Government ministers and staff about what is important to them, and find out more about how the UK Government delivers for people in Scotland.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said:

I’m very pleased to be attending the Royal Highland Show – it’s a fantastic event which shows rural Scotland at its very best.

The Royal Highland Show is an important opportunity for the UK Government to hear views from farmers and others in the rural economy, and for us to talk about our plans to support them.

Agriculture is vital to Scotland’s economy, and I look forward to discussing with the industry and show-goers how the UK Government can help the sector flourish.

The Scottish Secretary will attend the event on its opening day, Thursday June 20. A number of other UK Government ministers will also visit the four-day show and eight UK Government departments, plus partner organisations will be represented.

As well as touring the show site and meeting industry representatives, the Mr Mundell will host a whisky reception showcasing the best of Scotland’s distillers and toasting their success.

The whisky industry makes up 70 per cent of Scottish food and drink exports, employs more than 10,000 people, and contributes £5.5 billion a year to the UK economy.

In total hundreds of thousands of jobs are reliant on Scotland’s farming, food and drink sectors which produce billions of pounds of exports annually.

To help boost sales further, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will be promoting the ‘Food is GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland’ campaign at the show. And the Department for International Trade (DIT) will be promoting the ‘Exporting is GREAT’ campaign and encouraging Scottish food and drink businesses to join its community of Export Advocates to provide advice, encouragement and support to other companies looking to sell their products and services overseas.

UK Government departments will also be on hand to give advice about a number of initiatives, including opportunities available through the Industrial Strategy, and information about pensions and Tax-Free Childcare. Meanwhile Diesel, a Scottish Fire and Rescue search and rescue dog with his own Twitter page, will be the star of the Department for International Development (DFID) display showcasing UK aid work.

Young British nationals travelling to Majorca will receive tips on how to avoid exploitation as part of an annual Border Force operation designed to safeguard holiday makers.

Border Force officers will be distributing leaflets and speaking to passengers at ports across the UK about the risks involved in unofficial public relations (PR) work – those employed to attract people into bars and clubs in the Spanish tourist hotspot.

Research commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office found that 80% of British people imprisoned in Majorca in 2018 were former PR reps.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:

Travelling abroad for a summer in the sun can seem like a dream come true, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare for young people subject to exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

It’s important to raise awareness of these risks and I hope it will ensure a safe and happy trip for young British holiday makers.

The operation will run at ports across the UK from 16-30 June. Activity has already concluded at Scottish ports to coincide with different school term dates.

The FCO-commissioned research found that unofficial PR workers are often employed without official contracts, forced to work long hours for low wages, and not provided with suitable accommodation.

This can lead to them falling into debt and being drawn into illegal activities, such as selling drugs.

Lloyd Milen, Consul General Barcelona and Balearic Islands, said:

This is the second year of this operation. Last year, the campaign helped to reduce the number of illegal PR workers becoming consular cases.

Majorca continues to be a hugely popular destination for young people, not least because of its fabulous beaches and well-known nightlife. But we also want them to be aware of the risks of working illegally and to know what to do if they have problems.

Key advice to young people considering a PR role is to:

• insist on a contract setting out terms and conditions. Under Spanish law if you are working without a contract, you are working illegally
• keep your passport. Don’t accept offers from others to keep it safe
• ask to see accommodation before accepting it as part of a job package

Anyone who is overseas and has their passport taken should first report it to the police. British nationals should then contact the local British Consulate for help and advice to get a replacement. In Spain the contact details are 0034 933 666 200 or info.consulate@fco.gov.uk.

The Border Force operation is supported by modern slavery charity Unseen, who operate the Modern Slavery Helpline. Anyone feeling vulnerable about their work or finances can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline, in confidence, on 08000 121 700.

The operation is just one part of the work Border Force carries out to address modern slavery and trafficking. All front-line Border Force officers are trained to identify signs of modern slavery and make the necessary referrals.

We are aware of the allegations of malpractice or wrongdoing in relation to Edexcel’s maths paper taken on 14 June. Pearson is investigating and has stated that it has identified a centre in serious breach of correct practice. We are monitoring their investigation and how they will seek to ensure no student is advantaged.

We recognise the concerns of students, who should continue to prepare for their forthcoming exams as normal. If anyone has information relevant to these allegations we would urge them to contact Pearson or us in confidence.

Contact Pearson: pqsmalpractice@pearson.com

Contact Ofqual: public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk