Rethink Mental Illness has called on the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take decisive action to protect the nation's mental health.

Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said:

“The drama in Westminster over recent weeks has created a distraction from the real issues fuelling uncertainty, anxiety and worry in households across the country. The challenges people face have only grown more acute. Today’s news will hopefully herald more stability and it’s also a historic moment as we welcome our first British Asian Prime Minister. But as Rishi Sunak takes the keys to Number 10, he must acknowledge the pressures people are facing by taking decisive action to prioritise the nation’s mental health.

“Firstly, with record numbers of people seeking support as we rebound from the pandemic into the cost of living crisis, funding must be guaranteed to ensure NHS and social care services can meet rising demand. Secondly, the Prime Minister must also honour previous commitments to protect the most vulnerable by raising benefits in line with inflation. Finally, to confirm the future direction of travel, the 10-year plan for mental health must also be published before Christmas with funding allocated. There are certainly no easy choices for our new prime minister, but he can’t afford to let mental health drop down the agenda.”

Image of Rishi Sunak taken by Simon Dawson - used under Creative Commons license.