The government announced an external review of child and adolescent mental health services (chaired by Jo Davidson), designed to ensure that the educational and emotional needs of children and young people with mental health problems, or at risk of developing them, were being met.
Source: Press release 12 December 2007, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0870 000 2288) and Department of Health
Links: DCSF press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Dec
The healthcare inspectorate said that people from some black and minority ethnic groups were three times more likely to be admitted to hospital (in England and Wales) for mental health problems.
Source: Count Me In 2007: Results of the 2007 national census of inpatients in mental health and learning disability services in England and Wales, Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (020 7448 9200)
Links: Report | CHAI press release | MHAC press release | SANE press release | Mind press release | NHS Confederation press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Dec
An audit report said that crisis resolution home treatment (CRHT) teams were having a positive impact on local acute mental health services, providing an alternative to hospital admission for people experiencing a short-term mental health crisis. But services were being limited by a lack of input from specialist health and social care professionals, variations in staffing levels across the country, and too few admissions to hospital being assessed by CRHT teams.
Source: Helping People Through Mental Health Crisis: The role of crisis resolution and home treatment services, HC 5 (Session 2007-08), National Audit Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | NAO press release | NHS Confederation press release | SANE press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Dec
A report highlighted the long-term benefits of comprehensively meeting the mental health needs of children and young people, both to the individuals and families concerned and to public services and the economy as a whole over that individual's lifetime.
Source: Maintaining the Momentum: Towards excellent services for children and young people's mental health, NHS Confederation (020 7959 7272)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Nov
A report said that all prisons should have a dedicated family doctor practice, so that inmates' mental health needs could be better met by the National Health Service.
Source: Getting the Basics Right: Developing a primary care mental health service in prisons, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (020 7827 8300)
Links: Report | SCMH press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Nov
A new book examined the work of the Mental Health Act Commission. It provided a policy-oriented account of mental health law and regulation, in the context of health service modernization.
Source: Ian Shaw, Hugh Middleton and Jeffrey Cohen, Understanding Treatment Without Consent: An analysis of the work of the Mental Health Act Commission, Ashgate Publications (01235 827730)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Nov
An article highlighted the role of socio-economic exclusion in shaping black service users' experiences of mental health problems. Cultural and institutional exclusion compounded this, leading to continuing insensitivity towards the needs of black service users within both hospital- and community-based services. More systematic consultation with black service users was needed, and a commitment to change within mainstream services.
Source: Ric Bowl, 'Responding to ethnic diversity: black service users' views of mental health services in the UK', Diversity in Health and Social Care, Volume 4 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined ethnic differences in patients' experience of community mental health services in England. Ethnicity had a smaller effect on patient experience than other variables: but there was a need for improvements in services for minority ethnic groups, including access to talking therapies and better recording of ethnicity.
Source: Veena Raleigh et al., 'Ethnic variations in the experiences of mental health service users in England: results of a national patient survey programme', British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 191 Issue 4
Links: Abstract | RCPsych press release
Date: 2007-Oct
The Scottish Government published a paper which outlined the proposed future direction for mental health improvement and population mental health for the period 2008-2011.
Source: Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: The future of mental health improvement in Scotland 2008-11, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Links: Paper
Date: 2007-Oct
A discussion paper estimated the economic costs and benefits of providing psychological therapy to people not currently in treatment. The cost to the government would be fully covered by the savings in incapacity benefits and extra taxes that resulted from more people being able to work. The cost could be recovered within 2 years, and certainly within 5. There would also be significant benefits to the whole economy.
Source: David Clark, Martin Knapp, Richard Layard and Guy Mayraz, Cost-Benefit Analysis of Psychological Therapy, DP829, Centre for Economic Performance/London School of Economics (020 7955 7673)
Links: Paper | Abstract | NIER article
Date: 2007-Oct
The government announced a £170 million expansion of psychological therapies (such as cognitive behavioural therapy) by 2010-11 to provide better support for people with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Source: Press release 10 October 2007, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release | MHF press release | Kings Fund press release | SANE press release | RCPsych press release | Liberal Democrats press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Oct
A report said that race-related training in mental health services focused too strongly on cultural differences, and not enough on how to reduce racial inequalities in care.
Source: Joanna Bennett, Jayasree Kalathil and Frank Keating, Race Equality Training in Mental Health Services in England: Does one size fit all?, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (020 7827 8300)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Oct
A report said that there needed to be a fundamental change to the way in which children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) were delivered, so that they became more accessible and responsive. The statutory sector needed to adopt the person-centred approach commonly used by the voluntary sector.
Source: Ines Garcia, Christina Vasiliou and Kim Penketh, Listen Up! Person-centred approaches to help young people experiencing mental health and emotional problems, Mental Health Foundation (020 7803 1100)
Links: Report | MHF press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Sep
The disability rights watchdog examined progress on tackling the inequalities in physical health experienced by people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. It expressed concern that the Department of Health was only just beginning to show the high-level commitment and leadership that was necessary if real change was to come about. There was resistance to collecting the national data that was needed on health inequalities.
Source: Equal Treatment: Closing the Gap – One Year On, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Report | FPLD press release | MHF press release | Rethink press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Sep
A report said that the number of people detained in secure psychiatric wards in England had reached a record high. The population of high- and medium-secure units rose by 45 per cent between 1996 and 2006.
Source: Max Rutherford and Sean Duggan, Forensic Mental Health Services: Facts and figures on current provision, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (020 7827 8300)
Links: Report | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Sep
The healthcare inspectorate said that community mental health services in England were getting better: but access to counselling and support for carers was still poor.
Source: Community Mental Health Services: The views of mental health service users – Key findings from the 2007 survey, Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (020 7448 9200)
Links: Report | CHAI press release | Mind press release | MHN press release | SANE press release | PRTC press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Sep
An official commission produced its final reports on the problems of people in Northern Ireland with mental health problems and learning disabilities. It said that the existing law was out of date and inappropriate for those who could not make decisions for themselves, and outlined proposals for unified, rights-based mental health and capacity legislation.
Source: A Comprehensive Legal Framework for Mental Health and Learning Disability, Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (Northern Ireland) (mentalhealth.reviewteam@dhsspsni.gov.uk) | Promoting the Social Inclusion of People with a Mental Health Problem or a Learning Disability, Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (Northern Ireland)
Links: Legal framework report | Summary | Social inclusion report | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Aug
A joint inspectorate report said that, since the introduction of the national service framework for mental health, there had been a steady improvement in the range and quality of adult specialist community mental health services in England for those who needed them. However, the pace of change and improvement had been variable, leaving some people with little or no access to specialist care and treatment.
Source: No Voice, No Choice: A joint review of adult community mental health services in England, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120) and Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection
Links: Report | CSCI press release | Mind press release | NHS Confederation press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Jul
A review report in Northern Ireland sought to provide a vision of what health and social care services should look like for older people with dementia and functional mental illnesses; and how these services should work together to ensure that users and carers had their needs met, irrespective of where they were in the system, without encountering discrimination or barriers to access.
Source: Living Fuller Lives, Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (Northern Ireland) (mentalhealth.reviewteam@dhsspsni.gov.uk)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jun
A briefing paper said that African-Caribbean men believed that mental health services discriminated against them, and were therefore reluctant to seek help. Mental health workers feared black men and were afraid to talk to them about race and racism, culminating in a lack of engagement on both sides.
Source: Frank Keating, African and Caribbean Men and Mental Health, Race Equality Foundation (020 7619 6220)
Links: Briefing
Date: 2007-Jun
A report said that mental health services should renew their efforts to improve community care. It called on National Health Service trusts to look at new ways of working to help people rebuild their lives - including working more closely with employment and housing agencies, and cutting waiting lists for talking therapies.
Source: Louis Appleby (National Director for Mental Health), Breaking Down Barriers: Clinical case for change, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report | DH press release | RCPsych press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-May
A report said that there had been 'significant progress' in the development of comprehensive child and adolescent mental health services: but in order for existing progress to be maintained, further funding (protected to ensure it was spent on the purpose intended) might be required.
Source: Mary Atkinson, Emily Lamont and Dick Downing, CAMHS Funding and Priorities, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Date: 2007-May
An article examined the contributions of service users and professional social workers to the review of mental health policy and legislation in Northern Ireland. There had been a tendency to prioritize the more coercive aspects of the social work role, and to reinforce existing power inequalities with service users.
Source: George Wilson and Martin Daly, 'Shaping the future of mental health policy and legislation in Northern Ireland: the impact of service user and professional social work discourses', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 37 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
An article said that assertive outreach mental health workers in Northern Ireland appeared to have reduced perceived coercion, minimized the need for coercive strategies, engaged high-risk clients, and reduced inpatient bed use.
Source: Gavin Davidson and Jim Campbell, 'An examination of the use of coercion by assertive outreach and community mental health teams in Northern Ireland', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 37 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
A report documented recent developments in mental health services in England, with a special focus on the 1999 Mental Health National Service Framework and the 2000 National Health Service Plan. It highlighted a number of successes, while also setting out key challenges remaining.
Source: Time and Trouble: Towards proper and compassionate mental healthcare, Mental Health Network/NHS Confederation (020 7959 7272)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-May
Four reports by leading clinical experts set out the progress made for patients in key areas of the National Health Service service over the previous decade.
Source: Louis Appleby (National Clinical Lead for Mental Health), Ten Years On: Progress on mental health care reform, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Roger Boyle (National Clinical Director for Heart Disease and Stroke), Coronary Heart Disease Ten Years On: Improving heart health, Department of Health | George Alberti (National Director for Emergency Access), Emergency Care Ten Years On: Reforming emergency care, Department of Health | Mike Richards (National Cancer Director), Cancer Ten Years On: Improvements across the whole care pathway, Department of Health
Links: Appleby Report | Boyle Report | Alberti Report | Richards Report | DH press release | PM Speech | Kings Fund briefing | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Apr
An article examined discrimination against black people in the area of mental health policy and practice, and the effects of 'pre-emptive criminalisation' and institutional racism.
Source: Diana Fitzgibbon, 'Institutional racism, pre-emptive criminalisation and risk analysis', Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Volume 46 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Apr
The healthcare inspectorate published the results of a census of all mental health establishments in England and Wales. People from some black and minority ethnic groups were three times more likely than average to be admitted to mental health hospitals. 55 per cent of inpatients had to share sleeping accommodation or bathrooms with members of the opposite sex.
Source: Count Me In: Results of the 2006 national census of inpatients in mental health and learning disability services in England and Wales, Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (020 7448 9200)
Links: Report | CHAI press release | Mind press release | Rethink press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Mar
The government published a framework designed to ensure that children in custodial and other secure settings had access to comprehensive child and adolescent mental health services.
Source: Promoting Mental Health for Children Held in Secure Settings: A framework for commissioning services, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Framework | YJB press release
Date: 2007-Mar
Two linked articles examined the new role of primary care mental health workers in practice. The first said that for patients with common mental health problems, primary care mental health workers might be effective at increasing satisfaction with an episode of care. The second said that primary care mental health workers appeared to provide a range of skills valued by patients and the primary care teams, and could increase patient access and choice.
Source: Helen Lester et al., 'Cluster randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of primary care mental health workers', British Journal of General Practice, Volume 57 Number 536 | Elizabeth England and Helen Lester, 'Implementing the role of the primary care mental health worker: a qualitative study', British Journal of General Practice, Volume 57 Number 536
Links: Abstract (1) | Abstract (2)
Date: 2007-Mar
A new book examined the experience of psychiatric in-patient care from a professional and a user perspective, highlighting problems in creating therapeutic environments within settings which were often poorly resourced, crisis-driven, and risk-averse.
Source: Mark Hardcastle, David Kennard, Sheila Grandison and Leonard Fagin, Experiences of Mental Health In-patient Care: Narratives from service users, carers and professionals, Routledge (01264 343071)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Mar
A briefing paper sought to identify and review all relevant systematic reviews, syntheses, and other evidence on non-pharmacological interventions to promote positive mental health and prevent mental health disorders in people aged over 16.
Source: Lorraine Taylor, Nichole Taske, Catherine Swann, Seta Waller with Elaine Barnett-Page and Linda Seymour, Public Health Interventions to Promote Positive Mental Health and Prevent Mental Health Disorders among Adults, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (0870 121 4194)
Date: 2007-Feb
A report examined the development of psychiatric services in adult prisons in England and Wales. It endorsed the government's policy that mental health services should be provided as in the community, and in line with national policy. It recommended that the commissioning model for adult psychiatric services be adopted for commissioning mental healthcare in prisons.
Source: Prison Psychiatry: Adult prisons in England and Wales, Royal College of Psychiatrists (020 7235 2351)
Date: 2007-Feb
An article examined the factors that influenced help-seeking for mental distress by offenders. Most respondents reported that they would not seek help from a family doctor or other healthcare professional if experiencing mental distress.
Source: Amanda Howerton et al., 'Understanding help seeking behaviour among male offenders: qualitative interview study', British Medical Journal, 10 February 2007
Date: 2007-Feb
A report said that spending on mental health needed to rise by 50 per cent by 2011, and staff numbers by 40 per cent, if the government were to implement its policies in full.
Source: Jed Boardman and Michael Parsonage, Delivering the Government?s Mental Health Policies: Services, staffing and costs, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (020 7827 8300)
Links: Report | Community Care report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
A report examined how to deliver improved primary care services for people with mental health problems. Practice-based commissioning needed to be extended to mental health in order to provide a range of services and treatments to patients. This would require commissioning training for family doctors and other primary care staff, and the introduction of a national tariff for mental health.
Source: Primary Concerns: A better deal for mental health in primary care, Mental Health Foundation (020 7803 1100) and Pharmaceutical Schizophrenia Initiative
Links: Report | MHF press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Jan
The healthcare inspectorate said that up to 1 in 3 mental health patients were being over-prescribed drugs. Management of mental healthcare patients' medicines should improve, and pharmacists should be involved in patient care.
Source: Talking About Medicines: The management of medicines in trusts providing mental health services, Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (020 7448 9200)
Links: Report | CHAI press release | RPSGB press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
The children's watchdog for England said that young people with mental health problems were receiving inappropriate and inadequate care on adult wards, because of a continuing shortage of hospital beds and facilities for those under 18.
Source: Pushed into the Shadows: Young people?s experience of adult mental heath facilities, Office of the Children?s Commissioner (0844 8009113) and YoungMinds
Links: Report | OCC press release | Guardian report | Young People Now report
Date: 2007-Jan