Speaking at Jewish Labour Movement’s One Day Conference this morning, Keir Starmer announced that former Labour MP and respected advocate for improving mental health provision Luciana Berger has returned to working with the Labour Party, helping to prepare plans for a new cross-government mental health strategy.
Luciana will be working with Keir Starmer, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Shadow Mental Health Minister, Abena Oppong-Asare on Labour’s pledge to deliver a long-term cross-government strategy for mental health.
The review will consider how each government department can contribute to achieving three key objectives:
- Preventing mental ill-health
- Delivering Labour’s plan to recruit 8,500 more mental health professionals, provide mental health support in every school and put mental health hubs into every community, paid for by abolishing tax breaks for private equity and private schools
- Achieving the goal set out in Labour’s Health Mission to reverse the rising trend of lives lost to suicide
Berger will lead the review and will present recommendations ahead of the next election. The work will aim to ensure that an incoming Government can ready to hit the ground running on delivering a cross-government, long-term preventative strategy for mental health after the election.
Having previously held posts in the Labour Party as Shadow Minister for Public Health and Mental Health between 2013 and 2016, Luciana Berger currently serves as Chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, an advisory board member of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, and Vice-President of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party said:
“I am proud to welcome Luciana back. The Labour Party has changed beyond recognition since she was forced out, and we will be a richer party for having her working with us again.
“It will be the mission of my Labour government to make sure fewer lives are lost to suicide, with timely support available to all who need it. Luciana is a fierce advocate for mental health and her work will contribute to achieving that mission in government.”
Luciana Berger said:
“With Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour has turned a significant corner. I am delighted to be back working with my party and helping Labour deliver the change our country really needs.
“Millions of people are experiencing poor mental health, without the necessary support to recover. The absence of a proper plan to address the causes of poor mental health requires urgent attention. Labour’s commitment to deliver a cross-government long-term strategy to tackle mental ill-health is an important step towards gripping this issue, and I am really excited to be leading this work.”
