A study explored the experience of acute discharge for people in Scotland who had spent between a week and six months as a psychiatric in-patient. The findings pointed to a need for ward based discharge co-ordinators who would contribute to the development of an 'integrated care pathway' for people identified as requiring a range of inputs in order to sustain community placement.
Source: Lucy Simons, Alison Petch and Richard Caplan, 'Don't They Call it Seamless Care?': A Study of Acute Psychiatric Discharge, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Summary (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Dec
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommended that mental health service users diagnosed with schizophrenia should be provided with a wider range of therapy and medication on the National Health Service. (This was the first fully commissioned clinical guideline issued by NICE.)
Source: Schizophrenia: Core interventions in the treatment and management of schizophrenia in primary and secondary care, Clinical Guideline 1, National Institute for Clinical Excellence/National Health Service (0870 1555 455)
Links: Guideline (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The number of detentions in England under the 1983 Mental Health Act (and other legislation) increased marginally to 47,700 in 2001-02, from 47,500 in 2000-01. Campaigners highlighted the 40 per cent increase in detention rates for men since 1991-92, arguing that it reflects poor care in the early stages of illness.
Source: In-patients Formally Detained in Hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other Legislation, England: 1991-92 to 2001-02, Statistical Bulletin 2002/26, Department of Health (020 7972 5581) | Press release 27.11.02, Rethink (formerly National Schizophrenia Fellowship) (020 7330 9100)
Links: Bulletin (pdf) | DH press release | Rethink press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/2, Digest 118, paragraph 2.5
Date: 2002-Nov
Plans for a Mental Health Bill were not included in the Queen's Speech: but the government said they had only been delayed, to allow it more time to consider consultation responses.
Source: Queen's Speech, House of Commons Hansard, 13.11.02, columns 3-5, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 14.11.02, column 170, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard (Speech) | Hansard 14.11.02
Date: 2002-Nov
A report made recommendations about how services should be provided and commissioned for the acute care of young people with serious mental illness.
Source: Acute In-patient Psychiatric Care for Young People with Severe Mental Illness, Royal College of Psychiatrists (020 7235 2351)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 5.3
Date: 2002-Nov
A new book argued that mental health services are held back by a serious shortage of resources and a culture of defensive practice caused by misplaced beliefs about how to secure public safety.
Source: Jeremy Laurance, Pure Madness: How fear drives the mental health system, Routledge (020 7583 9855)
Links: King's Fund press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A joint committee of MPs and peers strongly criticised the human rights implications of the draft Mental Health Bill, listing 13 separate concerns.
Source: Draft Mental Health Bill, Twenty Fifth Report (Session 2001-02), HL 181 and HC 1294, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons), TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Rethink press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The General Medical Council expressed concern over provisions in the draft Mental Health Bill: in particular that both mental disorder and treatment are only loosely defined, so that some people for whom compulsory detention and/or treatment might not be appropriate could be caught by its provisions; and about the scope of the powers to continue to detain, against the recommendation of the clinical supervisor, people with mental disorder who have been convicted of an offence.
Source: Letters to Secretary of State for Health, 16.9.02 and 2.10.02, General Medical Council (020 7915 3507)
Links: Text of letters | Consultation Document (pdf) | Draft Bill (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
The government published a consultation document designed to provide information, generate discussion and outline a direction to help achieve a mainstream approach to gender in mental health service organisation and delivery.
Source: Women s Mental Health: Into the Mainstream, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A discussion document was published aimed at encouraging local and national debate on the meaning and importance of mental health and well-being in Scotland.
Source: With Health in Mind: Improving mental health and well-being in Scotland, Scottish Public Mental Health Alliance, available from Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health (0131 555 5959)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2002-Oct
The government launched England's first ever national suicide prevention strategy, aimed at helping to meet the target of reducing the number of suicides by at least a fifth between 1999 and 2010.
Source: National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Strategy Document (pdf) | Press release | 1999 White Paper
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 2.7
Date: 2002-Sep
A Mental Health Bill will provide new procedures in Scotland for compulsory care and treatment, a new mental health tribunal, stronger duties on local authorities to provide care and support services, and new rights for mental health service users.
Source: Mental Health (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Text of Bill | Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 2.7
Date: 2002-Sep
A body representing over 50 mental health organisations attacked the draft Mental Health Bill as 'flawed, unworkable and unethical'.
Source: Mental Health Alliance Response to the Consultation on Proposed Mental Health Act Reforms, Mental Health Alliance, c/o Mind (020 8221 9666)
Links: Response (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
Civil rights campaigners set out a series of objections to draft mental health legislation regarding the detention of certain people suffering from a severe personality disorder.
Source: Liberty s Response to the Department of Health Consultation on the Draft Mental Health Bill, Liberty (020 7403 3888)
Links: Response (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
A report made recommendations for improving mental health services for minority ethnic elders.
Source: Yong Lock Ong, Psychiatric Services for Black and Minority Ethnic Elders, Royal College of Psychiatrists (020 7235 2351)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
An article discussed methods for improving the recognition and treatment of depression in primary care.
Source: 'Improving the recognition and management of depression in primary care', Effective Health Care Bulletin, Volume 7, NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination/University of York (01904 433648)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
An official review identified a lack of charitable and other funding organisations with an interest in supporting research in mental health.
Source: Strategic Reviews of Research & Development - Mental Health Main Report, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
A consultation document set out a national strategy for mental health services in England for people of all ages who are deaf or deafblind.
Source: A Sign of the Times: Modernising Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Jul
Many older people in Wales do not get the appropriate level of mental health care, an audit report said.
Source: Losing Time: Developing Mental Health Services for Older People in Wales, Audit Commission in Wales (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report (Welsh) (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 5.4)
Date: 2002-Jun
The government began consultation on a draft Mental Health Bill, under which people with untreatable personality disorders could be detained in secure hospitals. The proposals were attacked by civil liberties campaigners.
Source: Mental Health Bill: Consultation Document, Cm 5538-III, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Draft Mental Health Bill, Cm 5538-I, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 25.6.02, Liberty (020 7403 3888)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Draft Bill (pdf) | Liberty press release
Date: 2002-Jun
