Mental health should be a key part of every local public health strategy. This has always been true but, as our NHS mental health services struggle to cope with increasing demand, it has never been more important to take a preventative approach to mental health.

However, while the case for taking action to prevent heart disease, cancer and other physical health conditions has long been accepted, we have been slower to realise the potential of programmes that reduce the prevalence of mental health problems and promote wellbeing.