‘I was brave enough to ask for mental health help – then waited 18 months’
Hundreds of mental health professionals warn their ability to provide care has worsened in the past year
An 18-month wait for mental health treatment has laid bare the “disheartening” reality facing patients, as a new report warns NHS professionals are struggling to provide the care people desperately need.
Zarah Khalique, 23, from Leeds, waited a year and a half for treatment for an eating disorder and anxiety - an experience she says shows why mental health support needs to be faster, more direct and easier to access.
It comes as a survey of almost 800 NHS mental health professionals found more than four in 10 believe their ability to provide care has worsened in the past year, with staff shortages and soaring caseloads among the biggest barriers.
Charity Mind is calling for fundamental reform, warning that the “current system is unable to provide the quality of care needed”.
The survey conducted by Mind, found 34 per cent did not feel able to consistently give the standard of care patients need. More than four in 10 said their ability to deliver care has gotten worse in the last year.
The new report calls on England to follow Wales’ lead with a same-day open access model.
This would mean people reaching out for support can speak to a professional straight away rather than being referred or put on a waiting list.
Zarah Khalique said: “Seeking mental health support takes courage, and long waiting lists are a disheartening response to that.
“This approach feels groundbreaking. I know personally that the most effective support that I received was from a professional who had a personal understanding of my cultural background and the nuanced factors influencing my experiences of mental illness at the time.
“This model would have benefited me when seeking mental health support for the first time. It feels much more empowering for the service user with support being direct, relevant and meaningful.”
Tom Pollard, head of policy, public affairs and campaigns at Mind, said: “Tightly gatekept and rationed services are not managing demand; they are exacerbating it.
“Many people find themselves stuck on long waiting lists or bounced between different services, while their mental health problems become worse and the impacts on their lives become more entrenched.
“It is clear the current system is unable to provide the quality of care needed and requires fundamental reform.”
It comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that a raft of mental health centres will open in libraries, banks and other high street locations across England.
The Department of Health and Social Care said that there will be 100 new community mental health centres and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments in the “biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation”.
The centres will offer walk-in support where people can attend without being referred.
Mr Pollard said: “People should be able to talk to a mental health professional on the day they need it. Equally, professionals should have the time to make someone feel heard and understood, and to identify the immediate and longer-term support they need.
“Mental health is at a pivotal moment, with a planned cross-governmental mental health strategy on the horizon.
“We have already seen some initial, positive steps in England towards a ‘same-day open access’ model of support.
“Similar to Wales, the UK Government needs to now seize the opportunity to build on this by committing to system-wide reform in its upcoming strategy.”