Stepping Out Blog

According to an investigation by the We Need to Talk coalition, mental health services are unable to cope with demand for psychological therapies.

The coalition of mental health charities, professional organisations, Royal Colleges and service providers says that huge variations in referral rates and waiting times around the country are unacceptable and are making people more unwell. It is calling on the next government to make access to talking therapies an immediate priority after the election.

While some CCGs, such as NHS Oxfordshire, say the majority of people are assessed for treatment within 28 days of referral, others report that over 90% have to wait longer.

The survey reveals that almost 10% are waiting over a year between referral and assessment, while almost 50% wait more than three months. Once assessed, most people start therapy within three months, yet a third wait longer.

While waiting, almost 70% feel they have become more mentally unwell. 40% have harmed themselves, almost 70% have experienced suicidal thoughts and almost 20% have attempted suicide.

The survey also revealed the toll on other services; 6% of people waiting for therapy have been voluntarily admitted to hospital, 3% admitted compulsorily under the Mental Health Act and 7% have come into contact with the police as a result of their mental health.

We Have Seen Mental Health Services Struggle to Cope

Paul Farmer, Chair of the We Need to Talk coalition and Chief Executive of mental health charity Mind, said: “Our investigation shows that providers, frontline staff and those who use services are all united in the view that mental health services aren’t currently set up to cope with demand.

“Far too many are facing unacceptably long waits or are struggling to even get a referral. This simply isn’t good enough.”

“All three main political parties have been in power in the time we have had IAPT, so we know the commitment is there but we have yet to see the ambitions of the programme made a reality on the ground. Whoever forms our next government must redouble their efforts and make this a priority, ensuring fair access and establishing waiting times targets so that no matter where you live, you can get the help you need when you need it.“

David Pink, chief executive of UK Council for Psychotherapy, said: “Demand for therapy is higher than ever but the NHS is not delivering.”

“Many NHS psychotherapy posts have been cut, clients are forced into long waits and thousands more are simply turned away. At the same, antidepressant prescriptions continue to rise and rise. This is a national scandal.”

“The next government must consider how to use this highly trained therapy workforce to ensure the NHS meets its founding commitment: that all can access support based on clinical need and not on the ability to pay.”

Semi-Independent Living

Stepping Out has always been prepared to help lighten the load on the UK mental health services.

For years, Stepping Out has been providing semi-independent living services throughout North London & Hertfordshire to local authorities. Our facilities are staffed up to 24 hours a day offering a supervised group living arrangement focused on producing positive outcomes.

Assistance and help can be provided for those who suffer from a number of mental health issues, For more information on our semi-independent living services, please contact us.