Urgently increase funded clinical psychology training places, expand permanent Assistant Psychologist roles, review barriers to the Doctorate pathway and create other routes so the profession is accessible to graduates from all socioeconomic backgrounds, to help tackle the mental health crisis.

Over 20,000 students graduate with psychology degrees each year, but only around 1,100 Doctorate places have been available in recent years. Around 80% of applicants are rejected. We are concerned that scarce jobs, application fees, and short-term contracts block lower-income graduates. We believe that ultimately this limits the number of trained psychologists, worsens NHS waiting lists, contributes to leaving millions of UK patients struggling with mental health problems, and risks a workforce that does not reflect the communities it serves. Urgent government action is needed.