Former Premier League footballer Clarke Carlisle has issued a warning that the mental health system is failing, as he calls for people struggling to get same-day help. The campaigner, who has spoken openly about his suicide attempts, wants the findings of a landmark review to “reimagine our mental health system”.
Rather than being placed on a waiting list, the retired footballer believes people in need should receive NHS support more quickly through an “open access” model. Carlisle, 46, a married father of five who is the new chair of mental health charity Mind, also highlighted the plight of young people.
Fonagy review highlights rising distress among young people
The comments come as a government-commissioned mental health review, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, laid bare mental health problems for youngsters when it was published on Friday. The review found: “Mental distress and common mental health conditions have increased substantially, particularly among children and young people.”
Carlisle said: “What is strikingly clear to me is how much young people are genuinely struggling. They feel unheard. Their views aren’t respected. Their suggestions dismissed. Major life milestones that may have been taken for granted in years gone by are increasingly, and continually, being moved further away.”
He added: “Young people are growing up in a challenging world, and the increased need for support is not due to a ‘snowflake generation’ or a case of overdiagnosis. The Fonagy review shows our mental health crisis is very real, and it is on the rise. Put simply: our system isn’t working anymore, especially for young people.”
Open access approach backed by Mind
Carlisle, who has appeared on BBC Question Time and was crowned Britain’s Brainiest Footballer after winning a TV quiz, said: “We can use Fonagy’s findings to reimagine our mental health system so that when someone asks for help, they’re able to get it on the same day. This ‘open access’ approach might seem utopian but it’s already becoming a reality across the UK. Some local Minds in England and Wales are showing how open access support can work in practice – moving beyond symptoms to see the whole story and truly understand the support someone needs.”
In August, the government unveiled plans to open 159 NHS mental health facilities in England. The announcement included 100 community mental health centres and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments. The latter would provide “fast, same-day specialist support for people experiencing a crisis”, the government said.
Carlisle, who welcomed the move, wants the government “to take this a step further”. He argued: “This open access approach should be extended across the country and to every stage of mental health need, from early signs of distress through to severe and enduring mental health problems. We need our government to properly fund the mental health schemes and services that work, so that everyone can get the support they need.”
He added: “We are in a golden opportunity for change. With findings from the Fonagy review here, and a new 10-year mental health strategy on the horizon, now is the time to be bold and shift towards a same-day open access approach that will meet growing levels of need with timely, high-quality support.”
Carlisle’s own struggles and the wider picture
The former chair of the Professional Footballers’ Association has spoken openly about his own struggles, including with depression. In a recent interview he said he had attempted suicide five times. One incident in December 2014 saw him hit by a lorry in North Yorkshire, resulting in weeks in hospital.
The son of a semi-professional footballer, Carlisle was born in Preston, Lancashire, and enjoyed a successful 17-year career on the pitch. The former centre back played for clubs including Watford, Burnley and QPR, making over 500 professional appearances, as well as being capped by England under 21s.
Tom Pollard, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns at Mind, said: “The same-day open access approach we’re calling for is already starting to appear in pockets of good practice within parts of our healthcare system. The UK government’s recent announcement of an expansion of mental health facilities for people with more severe conditions is one example of this.
“We want to see this approach embedded across the whole system in England, as is being implemented in Wales. This would mean that wherever you are in the country, and whatever stage in your mental health journey you are at, you can reach out and access an initial conversation on the day you need support. This conversation should help in the moment and also ensure you get the longer-term support needed. By providing this early, meaningful contact, we can prevent people’s mental health from deteriorating and ensure that support meets their needs. This will reduce pressure on clinical and acute services and help individuals to move towards recovery or living well with mental illness.”
Review findings and government response
The mental health review’s report published on Friday stated: “The rise in mental health problems is real…and cannot be explained by greater awareness alone”. It explained that the proportion of those aged 16 to 64 “meeting criteria for a common mental disorder increased by almost half, from 15.5% in 1993 to 22.6% in 2024”. For 16-24-year-olds, it jumped from about one in six to one in four. But the review said the same increase was not being seen in “severe mental illness”. “Population rates of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, for example, have remained broadly stable”, the report said.
The review also said ADHD and autism are at increased risk of overdiagnosis. While the authors said they “cannot conclude that overdiagnosis is occurring at scale”, they warned of an “increased risk of misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis”.
Over the summer, it was reported that Wales was to become the first country to test an open-access mental health support system on a national scale. The Welsh Government told the Mirror: “A key part of our 10-year Mental Health and Well-being Strategy is to ensure people in Wales receive the right support at the right time, without delay, through a same day open access approach that enables support based on need rather than referral. Building on initiatives such as 111 Press 2, online cognitive behavioural therapy and alternatives to admission, we want to give people more choice and flexibility in how they access services. The same day open access model is currently being tested through a number of demonstrator projects before being rolled out further.”
On Friday, the government pledged that people experiencing mental distress will get broader support and advice at the earliest opportunity – without having to wait for a clinical diagnosis. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Professor Fonagy’s review has shown the importance of early intervention to address mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions and the huge distress these can cause. It is clear that mental health services need to change to focus more on the early support young people need to stay in education or work or keep their lives on track. We will set out our response in a new Mental Health Strategy in the coming months, building on the new mental health services we are already providing in schools and in the community.”
If you are struggling, the Samaritans can help on 116 123. For help call Mind Support Line 0300 102 1234 (lines open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday except bank holidays).
