England to open 159 new NHS mental health centres under £343m plan

Up to 159 new NHS mental health facilities are set to open across England from autumn 2026 as part of a £343 million programme aimed at helping people access support earlier and closer to home.

The expansion will include 100 new community mental health centres (CMHCs), offering walk-in support without a referral, alongside 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments (MHEDs) providing same-day specialist care for people experiencing a crisis.

The government said demand for mental health services has increased sharply, particularly among children and young people, while too many people currently receive support only after reaching crisis point.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the new centres would provide an alternative to seeking help through busy accident and emergency departments.

“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.

“These new centres will be a lifeline for so many. They will bring NHS services closer to home, making it easier to get support before problems get worse, and ensuring those in crisis get the right care in the right place.

“On the steps of Downing Street, I said we would build a country that acts sooner when people need help. Today is just the start of making that a reality.”

The community centres will bring mental health and specialist teams together, working alongside GPs, councils, voluntary sector organisations and families. The model will also provide links to wider support, including housing and employment services.

Some centres will be newly built, while others will operate from existing community locations such as libraries and banks. All are intended to provide a welcoming, non-clinical environment within the neighbourhoods they serve.

Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said the programme was intended to shift services away from crisis response and towards earlier intervention.

“Too many people are only getting mental health support when they reach crisis point, after struggling for far too long to get the help they need.

“These new community mental health centres will help people get support earlier and closer to home, making it easier to get the right care before problems escalate. And 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.”

The 59 new MHEDs will provide rapid, same-day specialist support for people experiencing a mental health crisis who are medically fit and do not require treatment in A&E. They will be located alongside emergency departments and work with ambulance and police services.

The facilities will provide a therapeutic setting where people can be assessed quickly and connected with appropriate ongoing care, including inpatient treatment, support at home or community services. The programme will more than double the number of dedicated MHEDs in England, taking the total from 23 to 82.

Dr Nick Broughton, National Priority Programme Director for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodevelopmental Conditions, said the expansion would build on existing work to provide support closer to home.

“Across the country, NHS teams are already working to provide mental health support closer to where people live, alongside specialist care for those who need more urgent help.

“The rollout of more community mental health centres and dedicated mental health emergency departments will build on this work, strengthening both early support in the community and care for people in crisis, while helping services work together more effectively around people’s needs.”

The plans have been welcomed by mental health organisations, although several stressed the importance of ensuring services are properly integrated and accessible to those who need them.

Brian Dow, Deputy Chief Executive at Rethink Mental Illness, said: “Everyone should be able to access mental health support in their local community, when and where they need it.”

He added: “By bringing together treatment and wider support services under one roof, these centres can transform experiences of care, helping people to access support earlier and preventing them from reaching crisis point.”

The Mental Health Foundation also highlighted the importance of addressing wider factors contributing to poor mental health.

Mark Rowland, its Chief Executive, said: “Many of the drivers of poor mental health are issues like problem debt, unemployment, and living in insecure, poor-quality housing. Addressing these concerns helps prevent poor mental health and makes recovery more successful.”

He said community hubs could allow the NHS and other services to take “an earlier and holistic approach to mental health”, while making it easier for people to navigate between services.

The expansion also forms part of the government’s wider 10 Year Health Plan and is intended to contribute to a forthcoming mental health strategy covering the role of schools, employers, local government and the voluntary sector.

Lynn Perry, Chief Executive at Barnardo’s, said the needs of children and young people should be central to the rollout.

“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.

“That’s why we welcome the rollout of new mental health centres that are embedded into the neighbourhoods that need them, and hope that the needs of children and young people are placed right at the heart.

“This is an important step towards giving every child and young person the opportunity to grow up healthier, happier and able to thrive, with support that improves outcomes for life.”

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said the investment had the potential to improve access to earlier support, but stressed the need for joined-up services.

Professor Subodh Dave, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “We welcome this recommitment to investing in mental health services, which has the potential to help more people access support earlier and closer to home. To maximise its impact, it will be important to build on past learnings and ensure these new services deliver genuinely joined-up care for patients, without compromising quality.”

The first facilities are expected to open from autumn 2026, with further sites following from March 2027. Of the 159 planned facilities, 57 will be new-builds and 102 will be conversions of existing sites.

The government has allocated £156 million to trusts for the initial 59 MHEDs and £187 million for the 100 CMHCs. Final locations remain subject to design, procurement and business case approvals.