“Substantial scope” to improve Brits’ mental health

There is “substantial scope” to improve the mental wellbeing of everyone in Britain, a thinktank has told the government.

Foresight has spent two years examining mental capital and wellbeing, which it describes as a person’s cognitive and emotional resources, their ’emotional intelligence’ and thinking and learning capabilities.

Its recommendations cover a wide range of areas which together, it hopes, will allow the government to coordinate action with companies and individuals.

The group wants improvements in early detection and intervention to limit the negative impact of learning difficulties, which affect ten per cent of children.

Foresight programme director Professor John Beddington said the report provided “new insights… into the challenges ahead”.

“There is good work being done but progress can be made and taxpayers money saved if government departments work together more effectively to tackle these issues,” he said.

Prof Beddington said investing in identifying and tackling problems would help combat the increasing demands which can be expected by both “individuals and the state”.