People struggling with mental health problems will benefit from a new multi-million pound service that will be launched in November.
That's the message from Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) which has just been awarded a £76 million, five-year contract to provide mental health support and treatment in the city.
The CCG has promised to invest £20 million in providing a new and improved service, following a review of the NHS treatment provided to people with common and serious mental health issues.
The new service, which will be launched on November 1, will make it easier for patients to access psychological therapies (IAPT), including talking therapies, which can help people suffering with conditions such as anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Additional support will also be made available at GP practices and provided to parents during pregnancies or during the first year following the birth of a child.
Sue Robins, director of operational delivery, said: “We’ve been listening carefully to what people have been telling us about the support available to them.
"Our investment and long-term approach acknowledges that we have a lot to do to improve timely access to support for people and we’ll be working closely with service providers to ensure we reduce waiting times for services.
"In addition, we’ll use our learning from the primary care mental health liaison pilots to ensure we cover any gaps identified by people who had previously accessed IAPT or any other service.
“Our commitment to addressing the needs of people requiring support for their mental health fits with the NHS Long Term Plan."
He added: "We’re committed to realising the vision that people with mental ill health issues receive the same levels of support as those who have physical health needs, while also addressing the stigma associated with mental ill health.”
There are also plans to build a 22-bed in-patient unit for young mental health patients on the St Mary’s Hospital site in Armley.
Under the current plans, the unit includes six psychiatric intensive care rooms, 16 general en-suite bedrooms, an activity room, a school, family visiting rooms and courtyards.
It would also include a 'Section 136 Suite', where people detained under the Mental Health Act can be taken for an assessment.
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH) and Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) teamed up to prepare the plans and submit a planning application.
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