Amanda Martin

I thank the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) for introducing this Bill and, importantly, for shining a light on issues that deserve far greater attention. Our coastal communities are special places, but we know that many face challenges that can have a profound impact on people’s health, wellbeing and, indeed, life expectancy. Deprivation, low wages, poor housing, poor air quality, education opportunities and isolation all play a part. I want to concentrate on one area where these inequalities are particularly concerning, which is mental health. Research shows that young people in England’s coastal towns are three times more likely to experience a mental health condition. Behind that statistic are young people, families desperate for support and people whose conditions worsen because help simply is not available when they need it. These challenges are very real in my constituency of Portsmouth—a coastal city. Too many people in our city are struggling with their mental health. An estimated 15.4% of adults have been diagnosed with depression—above the regional and national average. Behind the figures are people trying to cope, families worried about loved ones and individuals who are not able to get the help they need. Getting this help is also not easy, because Portsmouth has 2,133 patients for every GP, compared with 1,634 nationally. This puts enormous pressure on primary care and makes it hard for people to access support early, when it can make the greatest difference. The picture for children’s mental health is equally concerning. The Hampshire and the Isle of Wight integrated care board spends just £966 per child with an active referral to mental health services—the 10th lowest spend in England. By comparison, north-west London spends £2,410. Even more troubling is that 40% of referrals are closed before a second contact—the third highest rate in the country. These are not figures; they represent children and young people who need someone to listen, families looking for reassurance and people who deserve consistent support, rather than being left to navigate the system alone. I therefore welcome the Government’s commitment to opening 159 new NHS mental health facilities across England, bringing support closer to home and intervening early, because it can make a real difference. When community support is unavailable, people too often experience a mental health crisis and end up in A&E. Our emergency staff do extraordinary work, but A&E cannot replace the specialist ongoing care that people need. We must give people access to the right support in the right place at the right time. That is why I am disappointed that Portsmouth has not been selected for one of these new facilities. Given the level of need in my city, I believe that Portsmouth should have been considered, and I welcome the opportunity to work with the Minister to see how we can make that happen. Behind all these figures are real people and real families. Too many young people, in particular, have lost their life to suicide in Portsmouth. I want to pay tribute to Tegan Hide and everyone involved in the Glade’s law campaign. I thank them for meeting me and sharing their friend’s story. Their determination to honour Glade’s legacy and improve mental health support in our city deserves recognition. Glade Clarke was a 23-year-old woman who sadly died of suicide on 26 August 2026. If we are serious about tackling health inequalities, we must recognise that coastal communities have distinct needs and ensure that they are not left behind. People in my city of Portsmouth deserve the right to access the same timely, high-quality mental healthcare as everyone else in the country, and I hope that this Government will continue to work with local communities like mine to make that a reality.