Prevention and early intervention

We believe that the best approach to supporting people is to do all we can to prevent them from ever becoming unwell. Prevention has been shown to be more cost effective, efficient and acceptable to people - but it is a challenging area where the evidence is still developing. Wherever we can, we will prevent the onset of mental illness and actively contribute to policy discussions and other activities that influence the development of effective preventative approaches.

We will actively contribute to the prevention of mental health illness by supporting innovations in primary care in specific areas. For example in early years, schools and early adulthood and in enabling communities to develop resources that improve wellbeing and resilience and improve access to information and support. We will also aim to deliver a greater focus on the longer- term prevention of mental health problems in secondary care, balancing the management of immediate risks with longer-term therapeutic outcomes for people with some conditions.

We will seek to shift towards balancing our capacity to deliver timely responses for people experiencing deteriorations in their health with the need to support others with their long-term health needs.

A timely and effective crisis response is clearly vital but there must be a focus on preventing future deteriorations in health, preventing longer-term risks and minimising any secondary negative impacts of our interventions and care. This approach aligns with the principles of trauma-informed practice which both recognises the likely impact of past and current trauma on people and commits to avoiding re-traumatisation wherever possible.

We will also continue to drive a shift towards better and more proactive community-based support - 24/7 wherever possible - and earlier intervention. This means working closely with people, and those who support them, and using technology and evidence-based practice to provide tailored support at or close to home.

Increasingly, trauma-informed practice is an important part of our approach to supporting people. The care and interventions that we provide must be grounded in the understanding that a person's exposure to trauma can impact them and their neurological, biological, psychological and social development.

We will also aim to deliver a greater focus on the long-term prevention of mental health problems in secondary care, balancing the management of immediate risks with longer- term, holistically considered outcomes.