Mental Health Funding is Falling-Black Communities Will Suffer the Most
The UK’s mental health system is already at breaking point. Long waiting lists, overwhelmed services, and a lack of culturally competent care mean that too many people, particularly those from Black communities, are being left without the support they need.
Now, things are set to get even worse.
In a written ministerial statement, Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, confirmed that the share of NHS funding allocated to mental health will fall again in 2025/26, following a previous decline this year.
At a time when 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year, and mental health conditions make up 20% of the NHS’s workload, this is a step in the wrong direction. Without adequate funding, more people will struggle to access timely and effective care—deepening inequalities and worsening the crisis.
What This Means for Black Communities
For Black people in the UK, these cuts will have serious and disproportionate consequences. The mental health system already fails Black communities at every stage:
- Longer waits for talking therapies and early intervention services
- Over-reliance on crisis care rather than preventative support
- Higher rates of coercion, including detentions under the Mental Health Act
- Limited access to culturally competent care
Reducing the proportion of NHS spending on mental health means that the most underfunded, overstretched parts of the system—including those that serve Black communities—will bear the brunt of these cuts. This will lead to more preventable crises, more forced interventions, and more Black lives harmed by an unjust system.
We Need Action, Not More Cuts
If the government is serious about fixing the NHS and supporting people back into work, mental health investment must be a priority—not an afterthought. That means:
✅ Reversing these funding cuts and increasing the share of NHS spending on mental health
✅ Investing in Black-led, community-based mental health services
✅ Expanding access to culturally competent care
✅ Prioritising early intervention over crisis-led responses
Black Thrive Global: Fighting for Racial Justice in Mental Health
At Black Thrive Global, we are committed to dismantling the structural barriers that prevent Black communities from receiving the care they deserve. We work with policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to push for investment in mental health services that centre Black voices, lived experience, and racial equity.
These cuts take us backwards. We demand a system that works for everyone, not just a privileged few.
Take Action
📢 Speak up! Sign our petition, share this post, and contact your MP to demand proper mental health funding.