Reforms to the Mental Health Act can’t come soon enough for Blackpool

This week the government unveiled the long-awaited Mental Health Bill, a momentous shift in the ongoing battle to reform the outdated Mental Health Act. This is something I have championed for years, and for Blackpool, it could not have come sooner. We have waited far too long for change.

Chris Witty’s 2021 report on health in coastal communities painted a grim picture for Blackpool, where rates of severe mental illness are shockingly high. In 2018-19, over 500 people were admitted to hospital for intentional self-harm, and suicide rates among men were the second highest in the country. By 2022-23, our town had the highest prevalence of GP-diagnosed depression in England, with 21.6% of the population suffering. Over 3,000 people here struggle daily with a severe mental illness.

For years, we’ve watched as the Mental Health Act has failed to evolve with our growing understanding of mental health. Too many people, especially in Blackpool, have been forced to navigate a system that offers them no dignity, no voice, and too often, no care at all when they need it most. It has been a system that has left too many behind, unable to get the help they deserve at their most vulnerable moments.

The new Mental Health Bill directly addresses these injustices. The current law allows little room for those detained to have any say in their own treatment. Labour’s reforms will ensure that those in crisis have a greater say in their care, including who makes the decisions about their well-being. This is about restoring dignity at a time when it is most needed, when people are at their lowest, and ensuring they are treated with respect.

“ This is a game-changer for places like Blackpool, where the demand for mental health services has long outstripped the supply.”

For families and carers, the Bill also represents a real shift in how we treat those closest to someone experiencing a mental health crisis. For far too long they have been shut out of the conversation, left to worry in silence as decisions are made without their input. The new law will require clinicians to consult with families and carers, where appropriate, and will give them the power to nominate someone to advocate on behalf of the patient if they are too unwell to voice their wishes. It’s a small but significant shift that acknowledges the importance of those who know the patient best.

The Bill also addresses the pressing issue of inappropriate detentions – far too many people in crisis have been locked in police cells or prison, environments utterly inappropriate for providing the care they need. The new reforms will end this practice, ensuring that people experiencing mental health crises are placed in healthcare settings where they can receive the right support. This change will make a real difference, not only for Blackpool, but for communities across the country.

In addition, the Bill promises vital changes for those from Black and minority communities, who are disproportionately affected by detention under the Mental Health Act. It also brings long-overdue reforms for those with learning disabilities and autism, ensuring they receive the care and respect they deserve.

Another welcome reform is the introduction of care and treatment plans tailored to the individual. No longer will patients be treated as a generic case – they will be seen as human beings, each with their own story, needs, and path to recovery.

The government has also pledged £26 million to open new mental health crisis centres. NHS 111 now operates a 24/7 mental health crisis service, and every A&E department will have a psychiatric liaison team. These are all vital improvements, ensuring people can access the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

Last month in Parliament, I paid tribute to the family of Jamie Pearson, the 27-year-old from Blackpool who tragically took his own life in an A&E toilet after waiting nearly 24 hours to see a mental health worker. Jamie came to what should have been a place of safety, only to be failed in his hour of need. His death is a tragic reminder of the flaws within our mental health system.

This Bill is about more than just responding to crises – it is also about prevention and providing long-term support that can help people before they reach breaking point. The reforms aim to improve the overall patient experience and ensure mental health services are more accessible, more responsive, and better equipped to meet the needs of those who rely on them. This is a game-changer for places like Blackpool, where the demand for mental health services has long outstripped the supply.

I have also urged the government to look to local initiatives like Blackpool’s Counselling in the Community, the charity I had the privilege of leading for four years as Chair of Trustees. Led by the remarkable Stuart Hutton-Brown, this organisation uses trainee counsellors while providing accessible, timely support to residents who need it most.

Thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers, local residents can receive counselling in just weeks – not the years-long waitlists that plague our NHS services. Empowering charities like this to expand their reach, rather than relying on the private sector to fill the gaps in our NHS, is a model that puts money back into our community and offers far better value for those who need help.

The Mental Health Act will always be necessary, as it ensures the safety of individuals when they are at risk of harming themselves or others. But it’s clear the current system is no longer fit for purpose. This Bill ensures that the system is fit for the 21st century – prioritising dignity, individual rights, and the critical role that families and carers play in recovery.

For Blackpool, and for communities up and down the country, these reforms represent a real opportunity to change the way we think about mental health and the way we care for those who need it most. The work doesn’t stop here, but this Bill is a step in the right direction – towards a mental health system that is fairer, more compassionate, and more effective for everyone.

It’s crucial that we keep pushing for the changes that people in Blackpool, and beyond, so desperately need. This Bill is part of that ongoing work, and I’m proud to stand behind it.

If you are in a mental health crisis call 111 and select the mental health option, request an emergency appointment with your GP, or attend the Urgent Mental Health Assessment Unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Whinney Heys Road, FY3 8NR. 

Contact Counselling in the Community for affordable or free counselling services.

Visit: counsellinginthecommunity.com / Call 0808 1963483

Visit Blackpool Light Lounge for daily drop-in services in a welcoming and non-judgmental environment for individuals struggling socially and emotionally.

259 Whitegate Drive, FY3 9JL / Call: 01253 713277