Lost in Crisis - Review Homeless Access to Mental Health Services, Manchester
Download (PDF 899.58 KB)Summary of report content
Drastic rise in homelessness in Manchester, the demand for crisis mental health services and over use of Accident and Emergency Departments across 3 sites in Manchester. Severe shortage of community based services. Research discovered that online resources often incorrect, unclear, contradictory or hard to find.
Survey conducted with 2 centres the Booth Centre and the Men’s Room with 25 people interviewed. They reported: often felt stigmatised, stereotyped or not listened to and struggled to access mental health services when needed.
Mental health support system for homeless people in Manchester requires urgent improvement. It is fragmented, vastly complicated and difficult to navigate, creating barriers to access. Services are also under resourced, waiting lists are too long and staff often experience stress. Many services lack an understanding of the complex needs of homeless people, or fail to acknowledge their rights as patients.
Mixed methodology: a mapping exercise through online resources, direct contact with services, 25 face to face surveys
Recommendations
• Better access to mental health support services homeless people need including up-to-date information and signposting through the independent sector. Keep websites in sync and up-to-date.
• simpler referral pathways to the Mental Health Trust.
• Better coordination between statutory and voluntary services.
• Better resourced key services who make initial assessments.
• Homeless Pathway team to offer support and coordinate to all homeless people that require access to NHS mental health services.
• A joined up approach with access criteria clearly defined.
• Services Pathway Map to be kept up-to-date.
• Healthwatch Manchester will continue to update, produce and distribute our pocket
guide “Know Your Rights: A Guide to Accessing Health Services if you are Homeless in Manchester.”
• Urgent crisis support capacity to be improved within the community
• Provision of a single point of access within service.
• Gateway Service to be kept up-to-date and telephone service to be supported by trained clinicians.
• Realistic and timely targets for waiting times.
• Regular review of services available to homeless people.