Funding frozen for fourth year running

A government grant that local authorities receive for mental health care has been frozen for the fourth successive year.

Despite annual rises in inflation, the mental health grant has stayed at 133m since the 2002-3 award of 154m. The grant pays for social care interventions in mental health, such as social workers or befriending schemes.

It is thought that the DH has frozen the grant because it has diverted more money to mental health interventions provided by primary care trusts.

But when asked why it had been frozen, a DH spokesperson said it would not provide a “running commentary” on its grants programmes.