First talking therapy areas announced
Talking therapies can be as effective as drugs in the short-term
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Friday, 13, Jun 2008 11:00
The first areas in England to begin offering 'talking therapies' for mental illness following a successful trial have been announced by the government.
Each of the 32 primary care trusts will receive a share of £33 million funding to roll out the programme.
Talking therapies will be available for people with anxiety disorders and depression and the government claims there is evidence that they can be as effective as drugs in the short-term and longer lasting in the long-term.
Announcing the 32 spearhead areas today, care services minister Ivan Lewis said the initiative will "transform the way the NHS helps people with depression and anxiety disorders".
"It will help to reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems," he added.
"I believe it is one of the most important advances for NHS services in a generation."
Over the next three years, 3,600 extra therapists will be trained and offer treatment to 900,000 people.
In the first year at least 700 therapists will be trained and see around 100,000 people.
More primary care trusts (PCTs) will join the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme in the next two years.
The successful PCTs chosen to take part in the first year are:
NHS North West
Eastern and Central Cheshire
Western Cheshire
Knowsley
Salford
East Lancashire
NHS South West
Bournemouth and Poole
Cornwall and the isles of Scilly
Dorset
Swindon
NHS East of England
Bedfordshire
Cambridgeshire
West Hertfordshire
NHS Yorks and Humber
North Lincolnshire
Leeds
East Riding
Sheffield
NHS East Midlands
Nottingham City
Lincolnshire
NHS London
Camden
City and Hackney
Ealing
NHS West Midlands
Dudley
Shropshire
Stoke
NHS South East Coast
East Sussex Downs and Weald
Hastings and Rother
Brighton and Hove City
West Kent (locality)
NHS South Central
Buckinghamshire (locality)
Berkshire West (locality)
NHS North East
South Tyneside
North Tyneside