The YHIP Mental Health programme provides development support to mental health and social care providers and commissioners in relation to key government priorities, sharing best practice and development of services in relation to policy requirements.

Our priorities for 2008/09 are to continue to provide development support to NHS and local authorities in relation to:

• Improving access to psychological therapies

• Acute and specialist mental health services

• Regional development needs arising from the Autumn Assessment

• Local development needs identified by providers and NHS regional organisations

• Social Inclusion and well-being

• Commissioning and system reform

• Equality and diversity

• Workforce

• Legislation

Our NIMHE Programme Lead in this region is Stephen Stericker.

For more information about national work, visit the National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU).