Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has today called for society to end ‘damaging' and ‘unhelpful' attitudes to mental health.

Speaking at the launch of the government's new mental health action plan, entitled ‘priorities for change – how those with mental health problems are supported and cared for', Mr Clegg said: ‘At least one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives.' 

‘So it's time for us to bring mental health out of the shadows and to give people with mental health conditions the support they need and deserve,' he added.

The action plan contains 25 areas where the Coalition wishes to see immediate action to ensure mental health is treated on a par with physical conditions and to increase access to the best-possible support and treatment.

‘It's a call to action – across the NHS, the mental health sector and wider society – to champion change, to transform outdated attitudes and practices and to improve the lives of people with mental health problems,' Mr Clegg added.

The deputy prime minister said one in ten children aged between five and 16 had diagnosable mental health problems.  He cited youth mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk and Lancashire as great examples of local innovation.

He also explained that from April mental health patients would gain the same legal right to choose where they sought care as has existed for other patients with physical conditions since 2008

He also called for better joint working across the public sector to tackle mental health, with better support in education, employment, the criminal justice sector and housing.