SOS Silence of Suicide supports today’s Mental Health Bill announcement marks a long-awaited and necessary shift toward a mental health system that better respects dignity, autonomy, and equity. The outdated Mental Health Act has, for too long, relied on approaches that do not meet the standards of modern care, too often placing individuals in prison or police cells at their most vulnerable. This reform aims to end these practices, ensuring that people in crisis have access to appropriate, compassionate healthcare instead of restrictive and inappropriate environments.

At SOS Silence of Suicide, we are encouraged by changes like the abolition of police cells as “places of safety” and reforms to Community Treatment Orders, which have disproportionately impacted Black communities. These are steps toward a more equitable and humane system, where patients have a greater say in their care, and where families and carers can be involved more effectively in supporting their loved ones. We also support that Autistic people and those with learning disabilities can no longer be detained unless they have a co-occurring mental health diagnosis. 

The increase in funding for NHS Talking Therapies is a positive development, aiming to make therapeutic support more widely accessible. However, it’s clear that the proposed reforms do not go far enough —for example a BBC investigation recently revealed it could take eight years for some NHS Trusts to clear assessment waitlists for Autism and ADHD. This highlights the need to build upon these reforms with stronger commitments to timely access for all. 

We encourage the Government to work with charity sector partners to work towards a systems change where mental health support in the UK is shaped by empathy, respect, and the modern understanding of mental wellbeing. Together, we can ensure the Mental Health Bill delivers on its promise of dignity, respect, and fairness for everyone affected by mental health challenges.

Written by: Elliot Jakubiel Smith- SOS Course Design and Build Officer.