The Psychological Therapies in the NHS group is delighted by the Government’s boost today to the IAPT programme. The 3-year funding package of over £300 Million shows a serious commitment to support us in delivering much-needed effective psychological therapies on the NHS.

“We are delighted at the announcement today by Alan Johnson of a dedicated funding package in support of the IAPT programme. Psychological therapies represent a critical component of our mental health services. Delivering improved and rapid access to locally based services is key to the promotion of psychological well-being as well as to reducing levels of more obvious psychological distress”, said Dr. Matthew Patrick, Trust Director for the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.

The professional organisations and charities have been working together in support of this move that has been championed so brilliantly by Lord Richard Layard. We can now begin to tackle the levels of depression and anxiety suffered by millions of people far more effectively than ever before. We believe that the Improving Access for Psychological Therapies programme has the potential for radically transforming our national mental health services, improving our psychological well-being, and putting personalised care truly at the heart of this new approach.

“This gives us a real chance to tackle the massive levels of neglect of effective treatment for anxiety and depression, which we know exists,” said Malcolm Allen, Chief Executive Officer for the British Psychoanalytic Council. “This is tremendously exciting, and good news for us all. It could be the start for the UK psychological therapies community, and for the NHS, in being right at the forefront of scientific developments in evidence-based practice”, said Jeremy Clarke, Chair of the Psychological Therapies in the NHS Group.

The Psychological Therapies in the NHS Group will continue to work with Government and the NHS to gain the maximum benefits for the public through helping steer this initiative. The test will be not only how well we implement the current NICE guidelines, but also how we set about building more effective services. This means investment is also needed into further research and in offering a range of effective treatments.

We are also determined to ensure that the IAPT programme draws on and mobilises the full commitment and energies of the huge numbers of clinicians, working collaboratively, who are needed to make this radical vision a reality.

“We at BPS wholeheartedly support this government’s commitment to psychological therapies on the NHS as part of its progressive health and social care agenda. A government, which looks after our emotional and psychological well-being, is a government, which is building a better future for us all,” said Peter Kinderman, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool.

“The IAPT programme now offers a real opportunity for commissioners, providers and service users to work together in the design of high quality, effective and comprehensive care pathways, allowing people the proper access to effective psychological therapies, which they are entitled to expect”, said Dr. Ronald Doctor, Consultant Psychiatrist & Chair of the Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the NHS.