BOLTON will play a part in a huge £134 million action plan to transform mental health in Greater Manchester.

The investment is the biggest and most ambitious of its kind in the country and plans to put mental health on an equal footing with physical health in the region.

Launched by Greater Manchester (GM) Health and Social Care Partnership, the five year commitment also aims to make sure every child who needs mental health support is not turned away.

Bolton has initially been allocated £7.8 million, the third highest investment after Manchester and Wigan, but this could increase.

An additional £2.6 million will also be invested in the town's mental heath services over two years as part of the Bolton Locality Plan, implemented by Bolton Council in partnership with health organisations, including Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group .

Councillor Linda Thomas said: "The council is pleased that this additional funding will be received to enable the enhancement of mental health services in Bolton and welcomes the commitment to providing improved support for the emotional health needs of children and young people.

"In addition, the locality plan has brought additional investment to promote emotional and physical health and wellbeing and to develop preventative services in areas of greatest need.

"Bolton will also be an early implementer of the GM Work and Health programme; working with GPs and their teams to develop a service that will support people with mental health problems to remain in work."

March figures for mental health in Bolton show services are on target for referral for diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

However, Royal Bolton Hospital bed occupancy and A&E referrals, discharge rates and re-admission rates for mental health patients are off target.

Bolton Trust chief executive Jackie Bene added: "We’re pleased to hear that Bolton will receive a significant boost in funds to enhance the mental health support we provide.

"The funding will help us to build on the work we already do with children and young people in our CAMHS, and also to strengthen the care we can provide when adults are admitted to urgent care in crisis."

Of the £134 million, nearly 60 per cent - £80m – will go to supporting the mental health needs of children, young people and new mums.

Over the coming years the programme of work will support schools in meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of students, help new mums experiencing significant mental health problems and offer extra support to the long-term unemployed or people at risk losing their job.

It will also reduce the number of people having to travel out of the region for services, reduce suicide rates by 10 per cent and increase diagnosis and referral times.