The Commissioning Friend for Mental Health Services

This Guide to Commissioning Mental Health Services is the second in a series of guides developed by the National Primary and Care Trust Development Programme (NatPaCT) to assist Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Local Authorities in the vital role leading ‘Whole System Commissioning’ of health and social care. The structure and content has also been informed by a wealth of input from the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) whose aim is to improve the quality of life for people of all ages who experience mental distress. This Guide has been designed to support PCTs and Local Authorities in understanding how to use their commissioning activities as a key part of improving the mental health of the communities they serve.

(Published January 2005, 162 pages)