The government has announced a £343m investment to expand community mental health services across England through the delivery of 159 new NHS facilities.
The programme includes 100 neighbourhood mental health centres offering walk-in support without the need for a referral, alongside 59 specialist mental health emergency departments designed to provide dedicated care for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Delivery models for the facilities have not yet been confirmed.
The investment comes as demand for mental health services continues to increase, particularly among children and young people.
Around one in five people experience a common mental health condition each year, placing growing pressure on NHS services and increasing demand for earlier access to support.
According to the Department of Health and Social Care, the neighbourhood centres will bring together multidisciplinary teams under one roof, including psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and peer support staff.
They will work alongside GPs, councils, voluntary sector organisations and families, with direct links to housing and employment support to provide more coordinated care within local communities.
The programme forms part of the government's wider neighbourhood health agenda, which aims to expand care outside hospital settings by improving access to integrated community services.
London to receive seven new centres
NHS England has confirmed that London will receive seven new neighbourhood mental health centres and one dedicated mental health emergency department as part of the national programme.
The NHS has not yet published details of the estate strategy for the London sites, including whether they will involve new-build facilities, refurbishments or the repurposing of existing NHS and community buildings.
The neighbourhood centres will be located in:
- Ealing
- Hammersmith & Fulham
- Wandsworth
- Southwark
- Redbridge
- Newham
- Enfield
NHS England said the facilities will operate in partnership with existing NHS, local authority and voluntary sector services, creating a more integrated model of care for people with mental health needs.
Dedicated crisis facilities
Alongside the neighbourhood centres, 59 specialist mental health emergency departments will be developed across England to provide dedicated assessment and treatment for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
The facilities are designed to offer specialist environments staffed by mental health professionals, while the neighbourhood mental health centres are expected to be delivered through a mix of upgraded NHS buildings, repurposed community premises and, where required, purpose-built facilities, in line with NHS England's neighbourhood health estate guidance.
The first sites are expected to open from autumn 2026, with further neighbourhood mental health centres scheduled to open from March 2027.
NHS England has said adapting existing NHS and civic buildings will be the preferred approach where possible, allowing schemes to be delivered more quickly and cost-effectively than new-build projects.
