The British Psychological Society has welcomed the publication, of New Horizons, the governments new plan for the development of mental health services.

Dr John Hanna, director of the Policy Unit of the Societys Division of Clinical Psychology says

“New Horizons promises to be the National Service Framework (NSF) the next 10year plan for mental health.

“We welcome in particular its vision of fostering wellbeing rather than just treating mental ill health. We also welcome the use it makes of health economics and the developing evidence base about which treatments for mental health problems are most effective.

“That evidence base shows that applied psychology has reached a position of parity with medicine, although that is not yet reflected in service delivery. We therefore disagree with the implication that the NSF has been fully implemented, particularly the NSF Standard 1 of preserving and enhancing mental willbeing as well as preventing and detecting emergent psychological distress.

“Nevertheless, we look forward to tangible policy proposals that, alongside effective commissioning and investment, will make New Horizons vision a reality.”