Healthwatch North Tyneside report of the Mental Health Service User and Carer Day on 15 May 2015

Healthwatch North Tyneside organised a Mental Health Service User and Carer Day on 15 May 2015 as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. The event, delivered in partnership with Launchpad, Time to Change and Mindfulness Based Therapies, focused on mindfulness and brought together mental health service users and carers aged over 50. Participants attended presentations, workshops on stigma and mindfulness, and discussion sessions where they shared their experiences of mental health services. 

Twenty-seven people attended the event, including facilitators, and 19 participants completed evaluation forms. The group included both service users and carers aged between 51 and 76 years. 

Participants highlighted a range of concerns about GP services. Many felt that GPs lacked specialist knowledge of mental health, did not routinely ask about mental wellbeing, and had insufficient appointment time to address mental health issues. Some people also reported that GPs were unaware of local support services and were not visible at community mental health events. However, several attendees praised their GPs and reported receiving excellent support and care. 

Views on mental health services were mixed. While some participants described the support they received as excellent, others felt that statutory and voluntary sector providers were poorly connected and that professionals did not communicate effectively with one another. Concerns were also raised about support for people with both mental health and substance misuse issues, access to crisis care, autism assessments, and the shortage of inpatient beds. 

Waiting times were a significant concern. Participants reported long delays for psychological therapies, including waits of up to 18 months for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Others described lengthy waits following hospital discharge after a suicide attempt and long waiting lists for gender dysphoria services. 

Attendees also expressed concerns about the decline of community-based support. They reported experiencing social isolation and called for more drop-in services and accessible safe spaces where people could seek support when needed. 

Several wider issues affecting mental wellbeing were discussed, including the cost and availability of transport, reduced financial support, difficulties accessing carers’ assessments and travel passes, and perceived inequalities in mental health service provision between different parts of the region. 

Feedback on the event itself was very positive. Participants valued the opportunity to share experiences, learn more about Healthwatch, and raise concerns directly. Many expressed interest in attending similar events in the future, and some were interested in volunteering with Healthwatch. 

Following the event, Healthwatch North Tyneside committed to recording the issues raised, seeking answers to participants’ questions, feeding back to service user groups and individuals, encouraging involvement in Healthwatch activities, and using the findings to influence local decision-makers and improve mental health services.