Cases of mental illness are rising and as a result, people are waiting longer than they should to access the care they need. Through our framework agreement, you can access suppliers and voluntary community and social enterprises (VCSEs) that offer a wide range of mental health, learning disability and autism services, helping you to reduce waiting times and increase capacity.

NHSE report that in the UK, one in four adults and one in 10 children experience mental illness, and many more of us know and care for people who do. Official figures show there were about 3.8 million people in England in contact with NHS mental health, learning disability and autism services in 2023-24, up almost two-fifths compared with before the pandemic. As the number of people accessing mental health services rises, the NHS is aiming to transform mental health services, with an ambition of putting mental health on an equal footing to physical health. A 2024 report from Mind found that the cost of poor mental health is calculated at £300 billion a year in England alone. For children and young people, mental health services now account for over £1 billion of NHS spending annually in England.

The Darzi report stated that by April 2024, about one million people were waiting for mental health services and that there is a need to embrace new multidisciplinary models of care that bring together primary, community and mental health services.

The NHS Long Term Plan outlined a five-year programme to develop children and young people’s mental health services to ensure 70,000 more children and young people can access treatment each year, including new approaches to supporting young adults aged 18-25, which bring together partners in health, social care, education and the voluntary sector.

Our Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism: Assessment and Diagnosis, NHS Talking Therapies and Crisis Services can support relevant authorities to reduce waiting times and increase capacity through an outsourced model. There is also a specific lot for crisis services to help relevant authorities in improving the treatment of people with severe mental illnesses, further reducing hospital stays.

Please note, this is not yet a full list of suppliers.

If this framework agreement doesn’t cover the goods or services you require, or a framework agreement isn’t the optimal route to market for your needs, we can provide tailored strategic procurement support. Find out more here.