The Northern Ireland Executive published five reviews relating to mental health and learning disabilities, covering:
• Children and young people – including early interventions, the needs of looked-after children, and the development of resilience.
• Patient outcomes – including the measurement of recovery, and the capture of patient feedback.
• Learning disability – including the management of challenging behaviours.
• Psychological therapies – including how to embed these in services for children and adults across the lifespan.
• Primary care – including aspects important to the prevention, recognition, and management of mental health in the community.
Source: Geraldine Macdonald, Nuala Livingstone, Gavin Davidson, Seaneen Sloan, Montserrat Fargas, and Dominic McSherry, Improving the Mental Health of Northern Ireland's Children and Young People: Priorities for research, Northern Ireland Executive | Michael Donnelly, David Scott, Sinead McGilloway, Tony O?Neill, Julie Williams, and Mike Slade, Patient Outcomes: What are the best methods for measuring recovery from mental illness and capturing feedback from patients in order to inform service improvement?, Northern Ireland Executive | Eamonn Slevin, Laurence Taggart, Roy McConkey, Wendy Cousins, Maria Truesdale-Kennedy, and Sandra Dowling, Supporting People with Intellectual Disabilities Who Challenge or Who Are Ageing: A rapid review of evidence, Northern Ireland Executive | Mandy Irvine, Chris McCusker, Jennifer Coulter, Helen Corbett, Nadene O?Loan, and Martin Dempster, Advancing Psychological Therapies Research in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Executive | Brendan Bunting, Liz Burtney, Finola Ferry, Deirdre Fullerton, Siobhan O?Neill, Domhnall MacAuley, Brendan McCormack, Hugh McKenna, Ciaran Mulholland, and Assumpta Ryan, Rapid Review of Mental Health in Primary Care: What aspects of primary care are effective in the prevention, recognition and management of mental health issues across the lifespan; for whom do they work, in what circumstances and why?, Northern Ireland Executive
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | Report (4) | Report (5) | NIE press release
Date: 2011-Dec
An article highlighted the importance of commissioning high-quality evaluations during and after implementation of mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention programmes.
Source: Eva Jane-Llopis, Heinz Katschnig, David McDaid, and Kristian Wahlbeck, 'Supporting decision-making processes for evidence-based mental health promotion', Health Promotion International, Volume 26 Supplement 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined the economic benefits to European countries (in both the short and longer term) of investing in mental health promotion, mental disorder prevention, and early intervention.
Source: David McDaid, Making the Long-Term Economic Case for Investing in Mental Health to Contribute to Sustainability, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Dec
A study found that the psychological therapy received by National Health Service patients with anxiety and depression in England and Wales was, in general, of a good standard – albeit hampered by substantial variations in quality.
Source: National Audit of Psychological Therapies for Anxiety and Depression: National report 2011, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Links: Report | Personnel Today report
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined the provision of long-term mental healthcare in Europe for people with severe mental disorders. Although there had been improvements in services in recent years, there were still major challenges.
Source: Jose Miguel Caldas de Almeida and Helen Killaspy, Long-Term Mental Health Care for People with Severe Mental Disorders, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Dec
An inquiry report said that too many people with urgent mental health issues struggled to access the emergency treatment that they needed. People with urgent mental health needs reported being left isolated, frightened, and unsupported in impersonal hospital settings.
Source: Listening to Experience: An independent inquiry into acute and crisis mental healthcare, Mind
Links: Report | Mind press release | CMH press release | BBC report | Community Care report | Guardian report
>Date: 2011-Nov
A review provided an assessment of commissioners' and providers' readiness to deliver the Department of Health policy commitment that adult mental health 'payment by results currencies' should be used for commissioning and reimbursement purposes from April 2012.
Source: Mental Health Payment by Results Readiness Review, NHS Confederation
Links: Report | NHS Confederation press release | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Nov
The mental health services watchdog in Scotland said that compulsory community mental health treatment had benefited most service users.
Source: Lives Less Restricted: A report into the use of compulsory community treatment in Scotland, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Oct
A think-tank report said that the decision to close big mental hospitals and treat patients in the community had failed to help the most vulnerable. Many patients were being neglected and denied access to treatment because the policy had not been accompanied by a parallel expansion of primary mental health services. The move to care commissioning groups – part of reforms proposed by the coalition government – should be used to enable charities and other independent organizations to compete with state-run services for contracts to care for the mentally ill.
Source: Mental Health Working Group, Completing the Revolution: Transforming mental health and tackling poverty, Centre for Social Justice
Links: Report | CSJ press release | MHF press release | SANE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Oct
An article said that people with serious mental illnesses in England were not seeing the improvement in death rates that the rest of the population was experiencing. This was leading to a 'persistent and increasing' mortality gap, where people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were at a greater risk of premature death compared with the general population – despite many improvements in mental healthcare.
Source: Uy Hoang, Robert Stewart, and Michael Goldacre, 'Mortality after hospital discharge for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: retrospective study of linked English hospital episode statistics, 1999-2006', British Medical Journal, 13 September 2011
Links: Article | Abstract | Oxford University press release | Rethink press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A report said that mental health service users were sceptical about the potential of personal budgets to improve their care.
Source: Personal Health Budgets: The Views of Service Users and Carers, National Mental Health Development Unit/NHS Confederation
Links: Report | NHS Confederation press release | Community Care report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Aug
An article said that it was essential that service users' views were taken into account when selecting measures to evaluate treatment outcomes.
Source: Mike Crawford, Dan Robotham, Lavanya Than, Sue Patterson, Tim Weaver, Rosemary Barber, Til Wykes, and Diana Rose, 'Selecting outcome measures in mental health: the views of service users', Journal of Mental Health, Volume 20 Number 4
Links: Abstract | MHF press release
Date: 2011-Aug
A report raised serious questions about the extent to which mainstream public provision met the mental health needs of black and minority-ethnic children and young people.
Source: Mhemooda Malek, Enjoy, Achieve and Be Healthy: The mental health of black and minority ethnic children and young people, Afiya Trust
Links: Report | Afiya Trust press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the rise in the rate of involuntary admissions for mental illness in England that had occurred as community alternatives to hospital admission had been introduced. The annual reduction in provision of mental illness beds was associated with the rate of involuntary admissions over the short to medium term, with the closure of two mental illness beds leading to one additional involuntary admission in the subsequent year.
Source: Patrick Keown, Scott Weich, Kamaldeep Bhui, and Jan Scott, 'Association between provision of mental illness beds and rate of involuntary admissions in the NHS in England 1988-2008: ecological study', British Medical Journal, 5 July 2011
Links: Article | Abstract | Newcastle University press release | Rethink press release
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the development activity undertaken by a primary care mental team and public health specialists in Glasgow (in Scotland) aimed at expanding the capacity of the primary care team to tackle health inequalities in the local area.
Source: Michael Killoran Ross and Pauline Craig, 'Tackling inequalities in primary care mental health', Journal of Public Mental Health, Volume 10 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An audit report in Wales said that since 2005, there had been 'important improvements' in adult mental health services in many parts of Wales: but progress had been variable, and some service gaps and inequalities remained.
Source: Adult Mental Health Services: Follow Up Report, Wales Audit Office
Links: Report | WAO press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the links between the 'enabling environment' approach to mental health and contemporary social policy themes such as relational health, public health, social inclusion, and the 'Big Society'. There was growing recognition of the need for a move away from a simple clinical interventions framework towards community mental health and addressing health inequalities. There were clear linkages in this new approach with past and emerging policy frameworks in public health and corporate social responsibility, including the need for more 'bottom up' solutions with local ownership.
Source: Robin Johnson and Rex Haigh, 'Social psychiatry and social policy for the twenty-first century – new concepts for new needs: relational health', Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Volume 15 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the emerging policy agenda of payment by results and care clusters, and how to ensure that it supported social inclusion and recovery in the commissioning and delivery of mental health services.
Source: Michael Clark, 'Mental health care clusters and payment by results: considerations for social inclusion and recovery', Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Volume 15 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
A report said that age discrimination in mental health services was a significant problem that had to be addressed as an urgent priority.
Source: A Long Time Coming, National Development Team for Inclusion
Links: Report part 1 | Report part 2 | Summary | NDTI press release
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the beliefs of men from black and minority-ethnic groups about mental health, and their experiences of mental health services. A 'complex mix of gendered and racialized experiences' – including social stigma, the coercive power of institutions, and men's own perceptions of services – could contribute to cycles of disengagement and isolation for marginalized BME men with mental health problems.
Source: Mark Robinson, Frank Keating, and Steve Robertson, 'Ethnicity, gender and mental health', Diversity in Health and Care, Volume 8 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
A new book examined issues relating to mental health (including dementia) and care homes. It discussed the regulatory, funding, and legislative context in which care homes operated; the major mental and other health issues that arose in care homes; interventions and services; and good practice in the promotion of health and well-being.
Source: Tom Dening and Alisoun Milne (eds.), Mental Health and Care Homes, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary | Kent University press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A report examined the views of service users and key players involved in implementing the coalition government's 5-year strategy aimed at addressing ethnic inequalities in the mental health system (which ended in 2011). The general profile of BME mental health had improved: but 'pockets of resistance' still existed in services, and race issues were seen as peripheral by some.
Source: The End of Delivering Racial Equality? Perspectives of frontline workers and service-users from racialised groups, RawOrg (Rights and Wellbeing of Racialised Groups)
Links: Report | Mind press release
Date: 2011-May
A paper examined recent research literature on the move from child and adolescent mental health services to adult services for young people with psychological, emotional, or behavioural problems. Moving between services was difficult for many young people, their parents, and carers. Recurrent problems included limited participation of young people, high eligibility thresholds for entry into adult mental health services, and inconsistent support during transition.
Source: Isabelle Brodie, Rebecca Goldman, and Janet Clapton, Mental Health Service Transitions for Young People, Briefing Paper 37, Social Care Institute for Excellence
Links: Paper | SCIE press release
Date: 2011-May
An annual report (the last one of its kind) examined mental health services for black and minority-ethnic communities in England and Wales. Admission ratios for people from black and mixed black backgrounds, especially men, remained well above the national average – as much as 8 times higher in some communities.
Source: Count Me In 2010: Results of the 2010 national census of inpatients and patients on supervised community treatment in mental health and learning disability services in England and Wales, Care Quality Commission
Links: Report | BMHUK press release | MHF press release | Mind press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Apr
A study examined the economic case for mental health promotion and prevention, based on a detailed analysis of costs and benefits for 15 different interventions. Every £1 spent on parenting programmes to prevent conduct disorder in young children saved £8 over a child's lifetime.
Source: Martin Knapp, David McDaid, and Michael Parsonage, Mental Health Promotion and Mental Illness Prevention: The Economic Case, Department of Health
Links: Report | CMH press release | LSE press release | YoungMinds press release | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined evidence from three countries (United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy) where community-centred mental healthcare had replaced large-scale institutions – focusing on the economic consequences of deinstitutionalization.
Source: Martin Knapp, Jennifer Beecham, David McDaid, Tihana Matosevic, and Monique Smith, 'The economic consequences of deinstitutionalisation of mental health services: lessons from a systematic review of European experience', Health and Social Care in the Community, Volume 19 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
The inspectorate for healthcare and social care published a report on the experiences of patients who appealed to a tribunal against their detention under the Mental Health Act. Patients' experiences of tribunals were diverse, ranging from positive to strongly negative. Patients were not always well placed to ensure that their lawyers were providing a good standard of advice and representation. Delays were a substantial factor in many patients' negative experiences of the tribunal process. A large part of the distress caused by delays was due to a lack of information about how long the process would take.
Source: Patients' Experiences of the First-Tier Tribunal (Mental Health), Care Quality Commission
Links: Report | OBV press release
Date: 2011-Mar
A briefing paper said that independent mental health advocacy services for people detained under the Mental Health Act were overstretched and unable to help all the people who needed their support.
Source: Rezina Hakim and Tom Pollard, Independent Mental Health Advocacy, Mental Health Alliance
Links: Paper | MHA press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The government published a new strategy for mental health in England. It said that the strategy would mean that mental health was given the same importance as the nation's physical health. A new emphasis on early intervention and prevention would help to tackle the underlying causes of mental ill-health. The government would work with the National Health Service, local government, and the third sector to help people recover and challenge the stigma surrounding mental ill-health. An additional investment of around £400 million over the following four years would improve access to modern, evidence-based psychological therapies.
Source: No Health Without Mental Health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages, Department of Health
Links: Strategy | Impact assessment | Equality impact assessment | Equality impact assessment (annex) | Policy document | Economic case | Talking therapies plan | Hansard | DH press release | DPM press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Alzheimers Society press release | Citizens Advice press release | CMH press release | Family Action press release | Labour Party press release | Mind press release | NHS Confederation press release | NICE press release | NMHDU briefing | Platform 51 press release | RCN press release | RCPsych press release | Revolving Doors press release | Rethink press release | Sane press release | St Mungos press release | Turning Point press release | UNISON press release | Unite press release | Children & Young People Now report | Community Care report | Telegraph report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Feb
A think-tank report examined the interim findings of research into the causes and effects of poor mental health, particularly as experienced by certain groups. High levels of family breakdown were a key factor in the 'rising tide' of mental illness. Despite significant improvements in mental health services under the former Labour governments (1997-2010) there was still too much bureaucracy, risk aversion, and ineffectiveness in mental health services. Services needed to be more flexible, family-based, and community-oriented.
Source: Mental Health: Poverty, Ethnicity and Family Breakdown – Interim policy briefing, Centre for Social Justice
Links: Report | Summary | CSJ press release | Family Action press release | Guardian report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined the opinions of people with an intellectual disability and additional mental health needs about the mental health services that they received. Participants valued staff who listened to them and actively tried to help with their difficulties. They also wanted choice and control over their lives, particularly with regard to meaningful day activities.
Source: Alex O'Brien and John Rose, 'Improving mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities: service users' views', Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, Volume 4 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined lesbian, gay, and bisexual mental health, and some of the factors that influenced the engagement of LGB people with mainstream mental health services.
Source: Sarah Carr, 'Seldom heard or frequently ignored? Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) perspectives on mental health services', Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, Volume 3 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan