Mental health campaign Time to Change to close as Government funding ends

By Jemma Crew, Reporter28th October 2020News EnglandBusiness / Funding / Finance, Charities, Mental Health, News England

England’s mental health campaign Time to Change will stop next year after Government funding ended, it said.

The campaign announced with “great sadness” that it will close on March 31 after 15 years of work promoting anti-stigma and behaviour change around mental health.

It said mental health problems were “truly taboo” when it was launched by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, and that attitudes towards those living with mental health problems have since improved by 12.7%.

Despite more work being needed, the Government has said it is “not in a position to fund the programme into the future”, Time to Change said.

Campaign director Jo Loughran said: “We had hoped to continue to fight for equity and end discrimination, working with these communities and others whose lives continue to be severely impacted.

“Sadly, we will not be able to carry out this vital work but will spend the coming months making sure that our ambition is driven forward within the work of Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.

“We know that in times of financial hardship, attitudes towards people with mental health problems tend to deteriorate, so there is a real threat that the improvements we’ve achieved will slide backwards.”

The campaign initially received funding from Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund, with the Department of Health and Social Care providing funding from 2011.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour’s shadow mental health minister, said the news was “deeply saddening”, adding: “Many will be suffering the negative effects of job losses and closures within the mental health sector.

“With NHS services stretched, those left without support rely on charities during times of crisis.

“It is now more important than ever that the Government ensure we do not see more announcements like this in the coming weeks.”

A DHSC spokesperson said: “We are tremendously proud of our association with Mind and the Time to Change campaign which has helped transform the national conversation around mental health and successfully changed the attitudes of over five million people towards mental illness and that is why we have provided over £30 million of funding to the campaign since 2011.

“We know how challenging this unprecedented time has been for people’s mental health and wellbeing, and we would urge anybody who needs it to seek help.

“Mental health has remained an absolute priority. We have provided £10.2 million in additional funding for mental health charities and our long term investment in mental health services will deliver the most ambitious expansion and transformation of mental health services ever across England.”