Today, his Majesty the King announced the priorities of the new Labour Government for the forthcoming parliamentary session which includes reform of the Mental Health Act and a focus on prevention in health and social care.

Responding on behalf of Mental Health Matters, Jane Hughes, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The government's commitment to the reform of the Mental Health Act within this parliamentary session is very welcome.

However, it is critical that the bill is not delayed in the legislative process as it has in previous parliaments. The Mental Health Act has not been substantially altered in 41 years, so the need for comprehensive reform is now long overdue.

In addition to this, Mental Health Matters welcome the government's overall approach to mental health, which outlines a strong commitment to focus on prevention and expand the service provision available to those accessing mental health support. It is promising to also hear the government place parity of esteem between mental and physical health front-and-centre of their mission.

As a charity with extensive experience of providing employment support to those with mental health challenges, we know how important timely support is to enable people to achieve their employment goals.

As an Armed Forces Covenant signatory and partner in the Op COURAGE project, we are excited to see how the Armed Forces Commissioner will work in practice."