Congratulations to Andy Burnham on becoming Prime Minister.

Over the years, we've enjoyed and welcomed opportunities to discuss with him directly the vital role counselling can play in improving people's mental health and wellbeing.

He's spoken about the importance of counselling within Manchester's Live Well model, championed better access to mental health support, and highlighted the need to tackle inequalities in provision across the country.

We're united in our views on the importance of mental health, early intervention and community-based support.

As he begins his tenure as Prime Minister, there is a strong foundation on which to build. Many of the issues Andy Burnham has consistently championed are priorities we share, along with our members and the wider mental health sector.

The challenges facing the nation's mental health remain significant, but so too is the opportunity to make meaningful progress. The decisions taken over the coming years will have a lasting impact on millions of lives.

We're ready to work with the new Prime Minister and his Government, to help improve mental health support across the UK. There are eight areas where focused action could make a meaningful difference.

Our eight priorities for improving the nations mental health

1. Appoint a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Improving the nation's mental health requires sustained focus, leadership and partnership. The appointment of a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing is essential to work closely with people with lived experience, professional bodies, practitioners and providers to drive forward meaningful change.

At a time when demand for mental health support continues to outstrip existing NHS resources, there is an opportunity to develop a clear and ambitious strategy that prioritises prevention, early intervention and improved access to therapy.

Counselling and psychotherapy must be central to that conversation.

2. Strengthen access to counselling and psychotherapy

Throughout his career, Andy Burnham has spoken about the importance of early intervention and community-based support. There's a significant opportunity to build on that commitment by ensuring counselling and psychotherapy are recognised as a core part of the nation's mental health infrastructure.

We stand ready to support evidence informed strategic rethinking with Government and partners to expand access to high-quality therapeutic support and improve outcomes for people across the UK.

3. Stop children and young people falling through gaps in support

Too many children still face too many gaps in mental health support and wait far too long for help. The Prime Minister must ensure the delivery of Labour’s longstanding commitments to ensure Mental Health Support Teams include pathways to counselling and the essential inclusion of therapists in Young Futures Hubs.

4. Address young people’s unemployment crisis

Youth unemployment and mental health are inextricably linked, with each reinforcing the other. Andy Burnham has previously backed the Milburn report, which highlighted the importance of earlier intervention and increased access to school counselling.

This commitment must be reflected in immediate practical action that strengthens mental health support for young people both in and out of work.

5. Improve access through community mental health services

Access to mental health support is often strongest when services are rooted in the communities they serve. Andy Burnham has consistently championed the role of local, community-based approaches and understands the opportunities that devolution can create for improving outcomes.

That commitment must be reflected in continued investment in community mental health services, helping to ensure more people can access timely support closer to home.

6. Create a safer digital environment for children and young people

Protecting children and young people from online harm remains a societal priority. Whilst the recent social media ban is an important step, there's more to be done. It's fundamentally important to address wider factors impacting mental including harmful content and misleading mental health advice not just for young people, but all people.

We stand ready to work with the government, regulators and tech sector to better understand and put in place the appropriate measures to ensure that society can benefit from technology while protecting those most vulnerable to its potential harms.

7. Ban abusive conversion practices

The Government has at last brought forward a draft bill to ban conversion practices in England and Wales. Everyone should be able to access therapeutic help without fear of judgement or pressure to change who they are. 

It's essential that the Prime Minister commits to see this pass as law with great urgency.

8. Act on the social factors that can influence poor mental health

Poverty, housing, unemployment, systemic discrimination and availability of access to community facilities can (and do) all negatively impact people’s mental health and wellbeing. There must be a relentless focus from the Government, led by the Prime Minister, on addressing the core underlying causal factors of poor mental health, with policies that must create the conditions in which people and communities can thrive.

Our offer of support, experience and expertise

As the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy, we're ready to work with Government, policymakers, partners and our members to help improve the nation's mental health. Together with our community of more than 76,000 members, we can widen access to counselling and psychotherapy, strengthen prevention and early intervention, and ensure more people receive the support they need, when they need it.

By working together, we have an opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting difference to the nation's mental health.