LOCAL authorities have come under fire for failing to prioritise spending on mental health.

Research by the charity Mind found that less than 1.5 per cent of English local authorities’ public health budget is spent on preventing mental health problems, with some councils spending nothing.

Councils took over responsibility for preventing physical and mental health problems in their communities from primary care trusts in 2013 but the charity said that some did not even know the responsibility had passed to them.

Figures for the North West were slightly better with 2.2 per cent of budgets spent on mental health prevention.

But campaigners have said that with around one in four people experiencing a mental health problem each year, the figures are unacceptably low.

Russ McClean, of East Lancashire Patient Voices group, said: “I’ve made this quite clear a number of times. It’s quite shocking.

“Patients with mental health problems deserve exactly the same amount of care that people with physical health problems get.

“I think people with mental health problems get the rough end of the deal, I’ve never been happy with the way they’re treated like second class citizens.”

County councillor Azhar Ali, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "Lancashire County Council recognises that mental health is an important part of people's overall health and wellbeing.

“This is why we are investing £200,000 on an innovative pilot programme to address mental health issues in Lancashire's schools. This programme will be launched shortly.

"We have also designed other schemes to help prevent people suffering from mental health issues.

“Our Bring Yourself Sunshine campaign encourages people to exercise, connect to their community, volunteer, try something new to improve their mood and make it easier for them to cope with pressures which could lead to poor mental health.

"We are also working on a new mental wellbeing strategy and integrated wellbeing system, which should lead to further improvements in mental health services in the future.

“We have provided these services despite budget cuts and would back any moves to increase funding in mental health services.”

Mind’s chief executive Paul Farmer said: “We need to invest in everyone’s mental health, particularly for people who are more likely to become unwell such as younger people, pregnant women, people who are isolated, or those living with a long-term physical health problem.”