Awareness of mental health needs amongst health and social care providers

Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin are invested in ensuring that people from all areas of our community can access and use their local health and social care services. This study addresses how local health and social care services provide for those with mental health needs. It explores whether there is additional support that may help services in improving the experiences of local people by asking about current provision and gaps that they have identified. It also asks how aware providers are of mental health services here in Telford and Wrekin to better understand what information needs are not being addressed.

The respondents were mainly from the primary care sector with a notable absence of involvement from hospital, opticians, pharmacies and care services. Despite this it raised some concerns surrounding the interoperability and integration of services in Telford and Wrekin and emphasised that all services are utilised by those with mental health needs. Awareness of mental health support services was variable and whilst most felt that they were educated and supported in helping people with mental health needs there were some who felt that there are organisational gaps that need to be addressed.

However, of most concern were the gaps identified by providers and their users in the delivery of safe and accessible services for people with mental health needs. Children and young people, people on the autistic spectrum and those who are deaf or hard of hearing were identified as people in our community whose mental health needs are not being met. Long waiting times and disruption to services challenge not only local providers in supporting those with mental health needs but also those who use these services. The delivery of services and appropriateness of prescriptions were also considered to be a significant concern and will need further review.