Key messages

• neighbourhood health and care models must embed mental health support within local multidisciplinary teams
• separating mental health from neighbourhood delivery risks perpetuating inequities in access and outcomes
• prevention and early support are central to reducing crisis demand
• community engagement and co-production are important for designing responsive neighbourhood services
• mental health integration should be treated as a core component of neighbourhood care.

Policy implications

• neighbourhood teams should include mental health expertise as standard
• commissioning and workforce planning may need to support integrated mental, physical and social care delivery
• prevention-focused approaches at neighbourhood level could reduce pressure on crisis services
• equity goals depend on addressing mental health alongside other aspects of care.

Gaps

• limited evaluative evidence on outcomes of neighbourhood mental health integration
• lack of data on workforce capacity to deliver integrated models
• limited insight into how integration affects inequalities over time.

Commentary
This paper positions mental health as fundamental to the success of neighbourhood health and care. By arguing against separating mental health from physical and social care, it highlights how fragmented delivery can reinforce existing inequities.

The focus on prevention and early intervention aligns with neighbourhood approaches that aim to support people closer to home. From a care equity perspective, integrating mental health within neighbourhood teams may improve access for groups who face barriers to specialist or crisis-based services.

The emphasis on community engagement and co-production reflects the importance of trust and local relevance in neighbourhood delivery. Without meaningful involvement, neighbourhood models risk replicating top-down approaches that fail to meet local needs.

Overall, the paper reinforces that neighbourhood health and care cannot deliver equitable outcomes without addressing mental health as an integral part of integrated, place-based support.