The government has announced £343 million to open community mental health centres across England.
The rollout is the biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation and includes 100 new community mental health centres, offering walk-in support without a referral and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments giving people in crisis specialist care in a place designed for them.
The centres will bring mental health and specialist teams together under one roof – working alongside GPs, councils, the voluntary sector and families, with direct links into housing and employment support.
The first sites are set to open from autumn, with more opening in March 2027. Some will be in new facilities, but others will be in libraries, banks and other community or high street locations so they are accessible.
The 59 new mental health emergency departments will provide fast, same-day specialist support for people experiencing a crisis who are medically fit and do not need treatment in A&E. They will be located with emergency departments and working closely with ambulance and police services. They will provide a calm, therapeutic environment where people can be assessed quickly and connected to the right ongoing care. This will more than double the number of dedicated emergency departments in England, taking the total to 82.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Nobody should be left to struggle with their mental health alone. But every day, thousands of people are waiting months for help, then finding the only door open to them is a busy A&E.
"These new centres will be a lifeline for so many. They will bring NHS services closer to home, making it easier to get support before problems get worse, and ensuring those in crisis get the right care in the right place.
"On the steps of Downing Street, I said we would build a country that acts sooner when people need help. Today is just the start of making that a reality."
Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Too many people are only getting mental health support when they reach crisis point, after struggling for far too long to get the help they need.
"These new community mental health centres will help people get support earlier and closer to home, making it easier to get the right care before problems escalate. And when someone does need urgent help, new mental health emergency departments will be able to make sure they are seen quickly by specialist teams in the right setting.
"This is how we can turn the tide on mental ill health - preventing more people from reaching crisis, cutting waits for care, and building an NHS which is there for everyone when they need it."
