Health Secretary Alan Johnson today welcomed the report from the World Health Organisation, published to mark World Mental Health Day this 10th October.

The findings revealed that England directs 13.8% of its health budget towards mental health - highest level in Europe; and England provides high levels of access to mental health care, with 12.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, compared to the European average of 8.9.

The report also showed that access to mental health nursing care is higher than average, with 51.9 nurses per 100,000, compared with the European average of just 18.7.

England is the only country to provide a comprehensive network of specialist early intervention teams, and is one of only three countries to provide access to outreach teams.

The country also has 23 mental health beds for every 100,000 people, reflecting continued focus on moving mental health treatment out of institutions and into the community.

'I’m delighted that the WHO has recognised the transformation in mental health care in England over the last ten years,” said Johnson.

“On World Mental Health Day, this is a huge tribute to the thousands of committed front line staff who have built a service we now know ranks among the very best. Our level of investment in mental health has risen to one of the highest in Europe and we now have over 700 teams providing innovative community based services as instead of treating people in hospital. The outdated and pernicious concept of 'the asylum' is over.”

The Government has said that it is committed to continued improvement of mental health services. Spending on adult services has increased by £1.7billion since 20001, which has led to radical improvements. We now have over 60% more consultant psychiatrists, almost 80% more clinical psychologists and at least 20% more mental health nurses than we had in 1997, providing better care and support for people with mental health problems. An update of the National Services Framework on Mental Health is expected late 2009.

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