The Government must prioritise the mental health and neurodiversity workforce if it is to respond effectively to growing levels of need, a new report from Centre for Mental Health said today.
The report calls for a long-term plan for the mental health and neurodiversity workforce and renewed ambition to expand capacity beyond the current level to meet rising demand. Without it, services will continue to struggle to meet people’s needs or to make real changes to how they work, the report warns. And the health and wellbeing of the mental health, learning disability and neurodivergence services workforce remains a major concern.
In an assessment of progress towards a ten-year collective vision for mental health, autism and learning disability services in England, the report finds that there has been some progress towards early intervention, for example in expanding mental health support teams in schools, and early support mental health hubs. But there are worrying signs that many services are shifting in the other direction, as long waits continue and too many people miss out on help until they reach crisis point. Echoing the findings of the Fonagy review published last week, the report highlights particular concerns about access to support for autism and ADHD, with long waits for both children and adults seeking assessment or treatment.
The report also finds a pressing need to invest in community services to enable the shift identified in the NHS 10-year plan in the balance of care from hospital to home, with a focus on provision of safe and secure homes.
It cautions that mental health emergency departments, which are currently being rolled out, remain untested, and it is unclear how far they will address the weaknesses in urgent mental health care.
The report calls for the upcoming cross government mental health strategy to place prevention at the heart of government, embrace a ‘mental health in all policies’ approach, and take active steps to protect and promote the nation’s mental health.
Andy Bell, chief executive of Centre for Mental Health said: “The people who spoke to us in the creation of No wrong door were clear that mental health, autism and learning disability services needed to change. They helped us compile a compelling vision of what support could be like in 2032. It’s time to return to that vision to equip mental health services with the right resources to fulfil their potential in the years to come. “Just last week, the independent prevalence review demonstrated beyond doubt that there is a need for more action to prevent mental distress and to improve support for neurodivergence and mental ill health. The government’s new strategy can set a direction of travel that builds on the good practice that exists today, that invests in a workforce fit for the future, and is ambitious about the support that’s available to people where and when they need it.”
