Why is New Horizons so important?
Around one in six of us experience a mental health problem at any one time and the cost to society is rising. The ten-year national service framework (NSF) for mental health, which has helped to transform services, ends later this year. In its place, we need a new and equally powerful approach to continue to improve mental health care and mental well-being. Poor mental health disproportionately affects BME communities as the statistics readily back up. Within BME communities some sections of the community are faring worse than others with asylum seekers and refugees increasingly suffering additional mental health difficulties following previous traumatic experiences. These figures are unacceptable and more needs to be done to ensure adequate services are available. Poor mental health is a national concern of real economic significance. Mental ill-health also has a personal impact on relationships, jobs and physical health. Mental health problems are estimated to cost the nation £77bn a
