There has been much scrutiny of the UK’s “mental health crisis”. According to NHS, 2.12 million people were in contact with mental health services at the end of March 2026 (of which 1.41 million were in contact with adult mental health services). Latest estimates available say that 1.7 million people are on NHS waiting lists for mental health support.

 

Mental health conditions now account for over half of those in receipt of long-term benefits and over half of “fit notes” issued provided by GPs. There are also discussions about “over pathologising” mental health issues: Dr Alastair Santhouse (Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital) has said people “can become very upset when you tell them that whatever they’re experiencing doesn’t warrant a medical label”.

 

The picture is clear enough and underpins the (occasionally sensational) press coverage. Much of the coverage talks about under-resourcing. NHS spending has increased six-fold (in real terms) over the last 50 years. Contrary to widespread beliefs, since 2017, NHS staffing has increased 14% and overall NHS spending has increased (in real terms) nearly 24%. Meanwhile, NHS staff productivity has declined by 13%. Professor Sir John Bell (former Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University and now President of Ellison Institute of Technology at Oxford) has written: “People believe the NHS is short of money. There’s no shortage of money…All our [health] outcomes are the worst [compared to all similar countries apart from the US]...so something is definitely not working, and it’s not money that’s the problem.”

 

All of the above figures, and their different contexts, are highly problematic and hotly contested. For example, it is almost impossible to find anyone within the NHS who does not believe the NHS is chronically underfunded and starved of resources. Everyone will have their own views, perspectives and theories.

 

From the perspective of Innate Health practitioners, it should be clear that Innate Health could play a transformational role in the UK helping younger people prepare for the adult world, and helping everyone find better, non-clinical approaches to improve their wellbeing.

 

To assist with this, the Association for Innate Health is established to:

 

1.    promote Innate Health so people are more aware of it;

2.    promote Innate Health practitioners to make it easier for people to take informed decisions about seeking or offering support;

3.    develop shared guidelines, standards and rules to improve quality and transparency;

4.    create a community of Innate Health practitioners to oversee this work.

 

We hope everyone working in the field of Innate Health in the UK will join the Association and contribute to its work and discussions.

 

The Association is a members' Co-operative in which all members are equal. We will hold our first Annual General Meeting in September or October 2027, where members will elect a Board to manage the Co-operative and its work. If you are a member of the Association, you will be able to take part in this election as a voter and as a candidate. Meanwhile, members will be able to participate in the Association's forums, attend on-line workshops, and help the Association set its plans for the future. We hope you will join us.