Mental Health, Wellbeing and You
Download (PDF 2.13 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Middlesbrough and Healthwatch Redcar and Cleveland worked in partnership with the Tees Valley Healthwatch Network to ascertain local views of accessing mental health and well-being services. They spoke to 590 people via a survey and focus groups.
The feedback from our survey showed that there is a real lack of information on what services are available, what is open and how to access these services. Leaflets are not provided in different languages or large print and are not easily accessible. People wanted a choice of appointment options in accessible venues such as community centres, GP surgeries, home visits and walking and talking. Appointment times should be flexible and take into consideration individual circumstances such as carer responsibilities, childcare and working hours.
People reported that it is taking too long to get an appointment for mental health support, initially getting a GP appointment and then further delays waiting for a referral, with some commenting a typical wait for help would be six months.
Staff changes and appointments being cancelled have led to inconsistencies which in turn have resulted in increased anxiety and stress. Feedback suggests that help and support doesn’t last long enough..
Crucial insight from focus groups highlighted a lack of interpreters, lack of information in different languages and no large print leaflets. In some cultures, mental health is a taboo subject and talking about this and asking for help can be incredibly difficult, this is exacerbated when an interpreter is from the same culture who may have the same prejudices.
Finally, the research highlights the need to improve the mental health and wellbeing support connection with voluntary and community organisations and activity groups. This will not only improve levels of wellbeing, reduce the need for more crisis intervention at a later date but also offer people support whilst on a waiting list for a service they have been referred to.
The report contains 10 recommendations and a response from the provider.