The NHS long-term plan contains positives but there are many questions left unanswered, BACP has said.
Mental health services will get an extra £2.3 billion a year of funding by 2023 to 2024 as part of the plan revealed today by the Government and NHS.
This includes a commitment that mental health services funding will grow faster than overall NHS funding.
The NHS has said an extra 345,000 children and young people aged up to 25 will have access to support via NHS-funded mental health services and school or college-based Mental Health Support Teams.
It has also said an additional 24,000 new and expectant mothers struggling with mental health issues will benefit from evidence-based support.
It added the plan will help 380,000 more adults, including older people, access NICE-approved IAPT services.
Matt Smith-Lilley, BACP’s policy and engagement lead for mental health, said:
"It’s good to see such a strong focus on mental health. The rate of funding increase for mental health services is another step towards achieving parity between mental and physical health.
“We hope these admirable principles are backed by further credible detail, making choice and increased access to therapy a reality for those in need. There are many positives to come from this plan, but there are also many questions left unanswered. The devil’s in the detail.
“We look forward to the government and NHS providing more information, in particular on the workforce and how counsellors and psychotherapists can play an important role in making these ambitions a success.
“We will continue to work with partners and the government to make sure the best evidence-based psychological support is available to those who need it, when they need it.”