NHS England Set For Huge Expansion of Mental Health Centres

Approximately 9.4 million adults in England experience common mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression in any given week. 

Government figures from 2023 also estimate that around 550,000 people aged over 14 in England have some form of severe mental illness.

With mental illness affecting millions across the country, NHS England has announced plans to open 159 mental health centres in community spaces across the country, backed by £343m (US$461m) in UK Government funding. 

It marks one of the largest-ever developments to the country’s mental health services.

Yvette Cooper, UK Government Health and Social Care Secretary says: “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.”

Huge expansion of existing mental health support

The plans, announced on 5 August 2026, include 100 community mental health centres (CMHCs), which will offer walk-in support without the need for a referral or a months-long wait, alongside 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments (MHEDs). 

Across England, there are currently just 6 CMHCs and 23 MHEDs. 

The first sites will open in autumn 2026, with a second wave opening in March 2027.

A key rationale behind the plan is that people in crisis can receive dedicated, specialist mental health emergency care in a community setting rather than visiting a generalist A&E department.

This is crucial from a patient care perspective, but also within the context of the NHS’ overstretched A&E system.

“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,” explains Andy Burnham, the UK's Prime Minister.

Young people’s mental health service demands growing

A 2023 survey of children and young people's mental health found that the proportion of 8- to 16-year-olds with a probable mental disorder had grown to 20%, up from 12% in 2017.

Demand for mental health services has grown across the board, but has risen particularly sharply among young people.

Lynn Perry, CEO at children’s charity Barnardo’s, says, “The mental health of far too many children and young people is at crisis point. We urgently need to shift focus from response to prevention – helping children and young people get the support they need before reaching crisis point.”

The government hopes that earlier mental health intervention and care will help more children stay in education, more adults remain in or return to work, and fewer people reach crisis point overall.

Building on the NHS 10-Year Health Plan

The expansion of NHS England’s mental health centres is not a standalone initiative, and builds on work already underway through the NHS’ 10-Year Health Plan.

A core tenet of the nationwide strategy is shifting care away from hospital-based treatment and towards earlier intervention delivered closer to home.