Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to invest in evidence-based programmes that can protect people’s mental health.

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning public mental health programmes through the Public Health Grant. Decisions on investing in evidence-based programmes are made locally. All local authorities received an increase to the Public Health Grant in 2021/22 and a 2.8% increase in 2022/23. The 2021 Spending Review confirmed the Public Health Grant will continue to increase over the Spending Review period. We continue to invest in the Better Health-Every Mind Matters campaign and digital resources to ensure that young people and adults have the skills to prevent or manage sub-clinical mental health problems.