COUNCILS in the North-East have been criticised for spending less than two per cent of their public health budgets on mental health.

Figures published today by charity Mind reveal that local authorities in the region spent £293,000 on average in 204/15 on mental health.

This equates to around 1.75 per cent of their public health budgets which is above the national average but still not enough says Mind.

Mind says that local authorities have a remit to promote both good physical and mental health in the communities they serve.

But while they spend millions of pounds on physical health programmes, the charity says its findings show that most spend next to nothing on preventing mental health problems.

Local authorities are required by the Department of Health to report on their public health spending against a set list of categories, including sexual health services, obesity and stop smoking services.

The charity is concerned that any spending on public mental health is reported under ‘miscellaneous’, grouped together with 14 other areas.

Mind argues that this undermines the Government’s commitment to giving mental health equality with physical health.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: “Our research shows that the current spend on public mental health initiatives is negligible. The fact that local authorities’ public health teams are allowed to file mental health under ‘miscellaneous’ when reporting on it perhaps explains why. It sends a message that mental health is not seen as important and not a priority for investment.

“It is not acceptable that such a small amount of the public health purse goes on preventing mental health problems. One in four people will experience a mental health problem every year, yet so much of this could be prevented by targeted programmes aimed at groups we know to be at risk, such as pregnant women, people who are isolated, or those living with a long term physical health problem.”

The charity estimates that mental health problems cost health and social care services £21 billion annually, with a further £30 billion lost in economic output.

Mind argues that spending on promoting good mental health and preventing mental health problems developing is just as important as physical health.

Data on public mental health spend was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Mind and also showed that some areas do not plan to spend a single penny on preventing mental health problems this year.

The charity is calling on the Government to demand public health teams prioritise mental health by asking them to no longer label public mental health spend as ‘miscellaneous’, and instead give public mental health its own category.