Nearly a million more people will benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy after an extra £170 million was pledged yesterday by Alan Johnson.

It is a “talking therapy” that guides people with conditions such as depression and anxiety into changing the way they feel about themselves.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends it as a first-line treatment, especially for adolescents.

But it has not been widely available because of a shortage of money. The additional funding will go towards an expansion of mental health therapies to ensure that such treatments are available UK-wide.

Studies have shown that psychological therapies can be as effective as drugs in tackling common mental health problems, and are often more successful in the longer term.

As many as six million UK working age adults suffer from depression or anxiety at any one time, resulting in a estimated 91 million working days lost every year. This equates to an estimated annual economic cost, in sick leave, lost jobs and reduced output, of £12 billion.

The new money, which will be spent over the next four years, will treat 900,000 more people for depression and anxiety and provide an additional 3,600 trained therapists.

All GP practices will also have access to nondrug treatments.

Mr Johnson said: “More than one in six people suffer from mental health problems at any one time. For many people medication is a successful treatment but we know that psychological therapies work equally well. Today’s announcement shows the Government’s commitment to mental health.

“Improving access to psychological therapies will give people a real choice of treatment, helping to reduce dependence on medication.”

Lord Richard Layard, co-author of the London School of Economics Depression Report, said: “This is great news and just what we have all been waiting for.

“Mental health is the biggest social problem in our country. This new service will bring relief to millions.”

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