The Government recognises concerns around the sufficiency of National Health Service professionals, including clinical psychologists and specialist staff, to meet rising demand for support, such as young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety. We have already delivered on our commitment to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers, three years ahead of schedule, which is helping to expand capacity across a range of services and support earlier access to care.

However, we are clear that increasing the workforce alone is not enough to meet growing need. That is why we are transforming mental health services through the 10-Year Health Plan, shifting towards prevention and earlier intervention, expanding community-based support, and improving access for children and young people, including through mental health support teams in schools and colleges and wider service improvements.

We are also developing a new mental health strategy for England, which will set out how we will go further to improve access, reduce waiting times, and ensure services respond more effectively to rising demand.