The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme is a regional initiative backed by new national government funding to try and ensure that people with mild to moderate mental health problems, who might benefit from having access to talking therapies, will soon be able to find a therapist closer to home.

In 2008 new funds have been allocated to the programme and the East of England will benefit from its share of the £33 million first instalment of new money announced for the purpose by Health Secretary Alan Johnson on World Mental Health Day 2007.

The funds will help create a new workforce than can offer properly supervised low intensity and high intensity therapy, slashing waiting times for this kind of treatment and helping patients achieve a level of recovery that they can clearly see and which is in line with the evidence from clinical trials that has been independently reviewed by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellent (NICE).
 
We are working with the NHS East of England and all 14 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to ensure new psychological therapists are trained and employed in expanded primary mental health care services across the whole of the region.

Find out more information on the programme’s specific websites:

• National website - www.iapt.nhs.uk
• Eastern region - www.eoe.nhs.uk/iapt

Key Contacts:

Fiona McMillan-Shields - Programme Manager for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

Francesca Pocock - IAPT Programme Administrator