ST20-P206 - SLaM - Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

National Context The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme began in 2008 and has transformed the treatment of adult anxiety disorders and depression in England. IAPT is widely-recognised as the most ambitious programme of talking therapies in the world and in the past year alone more than one million people accessed IAPT services for help to overcome their depression and anxiety, and better manage their mental health. Plans set out in the NHS Long Term Plan build on the ambitions of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, and will see the number of people with anxiety disorders or depression who can access talking therapies through IAPT increase by an additional 380,000 per year to reach 1.9 million by 2023/24. The IAPT programme has established psychological therapy services in each CCG area, which are designed to treat common mental health issues (depression and anxiety) in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) stepped models of care.