NHS England will open 159 NHS mental health centres in England, giving people earlier local support and specialist crisis care outside A&E.
The initiative is backed by £343 million.
New centres in communities are designed to catch problems early, so fewer people reach crisis point in the first place.
People in crisis will get dedicated mental health emergency care rather than wait for A&E service.
It includes:
- 100 new community mental health centres, offering walk-in support without a referral and without a months-long wait
- 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments giving people in crisis specialist care in a place designed for them
Demand for mental health services has risen sharply, particularly among children and young people, with around 1 in 5 people experiencing a common mental health condition each year.
The first sites open from autumn this year, with further facilities following from March 2027.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “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.”
The announcement comes as the Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper visits a community mental health centre in Sheffield, one of six already operating in England.
Cooper said: “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.”
Some of the community hubs will be newly built facilities, while others will be in libraries, banks and other community or high-street locations to move care closer to where people live, improving access.
