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This Library Note provides background reading for the debate to be held on 10 October on the implications of parity of esteem for mental and physical health, as required by the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

The first section outlines key statistics about the prevalence and treatment of mental health disorders and presents information about current spending on mental health in England. The second section sets out the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 for parity between physical and mental health and summarises the debates held on the issue during the passage of the legislation through Parliament. The final section presents the main recommendations of the Royal College of Psychiatrists from its report on achieving parity and concludes with a summary of the Government’s strategy towards mental health.

Documents to download

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