PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to take action to tackle the “root causes” of poor mental health rather than the symptoms in an open letter by a coalition of health organisations.

The letter — which has 37 signatures from the likes of Rethink Mental Illness, Mind, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and the Centre for Mental Health — warns that “cuts to disability benefits do not address the causes of the problem and may exacerbate them.”

It claims poor mental health is “having a substantial impact on society and the economy.”

The letter comes after the government announced a tightening of eligibility for the main disability benefit, personal independence payment (Pip), and changes to the sickness element of universal credit in March.

The organisations have written that they are keen to support the government in “tackling the twin beasts of worsening illness and economic inactivity” and “the only long term way to do this is to address causes rather than symptoms.”

The letter calls for the government to implement a cross-departmental mental health strategy.

“This would join up thinking across education, online safety, health, welfare and other areas, in a way that cannot be delivered solely through the NHS 10-year plan,” it says.

Mark Winstanley, chief executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “We are in the grip of a mental health crisis that is affecting millions of lives and putting the brakes on the country’s economic potential.

“We cannot treat our way out of this crisis; we must also prevent it.

“In addition to cutting waiting lists, that means tackling the root causes of poor mental health.

“It means making sure children are supported at school, that people have a safe and secure place to call home, and that welfare policies promote wellbeing rather than undermine it.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This government is taking action to fix the broken system, with a focus on prevention and addressing the root causes of mental ill health.  

“We have prioritised funding to deliver an additional 345,000 NHS Talking Therapies interventions, helping people contribute to the economy by remaining in or returning to work.”

The department has also increased mental health spending by £680 million in cash terms, the spokesperson added.