The positives and negatives of mental health services in Rotherham
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Summary of the report: The positives and negatives of mental health services in Rotherham. Published by Healthwatch Rotherham May 2021:
Healthwatch Rotherham conducted two surveys exploring experiences with mental health services: one to children and young people and one to adults in Rotherham in March/April June 2021. After discovering that there was no clear pathway to refer those in a mental health crisis into mental health services, they also ran a short organisational survey.
Main themes that emerged are as follows:
● In the Children and Young People’s Survey there was a mixture of positive and negative feedback featuring CAMHS mostly on both fronts. There were some examples of good experiences, but others experienced lack of signposting, difficulty getting referrals, long waiting times and lack of support. Recommendations are: shorten waiting times; increase support; and increase accessibility.
● The Adult survey covered a range of services and again there was a range of positive and negative experiences. Counselling was the most frequently used service. Whilst other services were mentioned the importance of the role of GPs was stressed, often being the first point of contact and for ongoing monitoring. Negatives include long wait times to access services, lack of effective support, “one size fits all approach” (CBT). Recommendations are shorten waiting times; increase support; and give more consideration to an individuals’ needs.
● The Organisational Mental Health Survey covered a wide range of support services like Age UK, Citizens Advice, Rotherham Cancer Care as well South Yorkshire Police and explored their opinions on a range of mental health services, specifically access to these services in relation to mental health, crisis and safeguarding queries. Just under half experienced barriers including: problems with access; long waiting times and receiving support – some experiencing being passed back and forth between agencies. Recommendations were around improving those areas, and in particular, out of hours access, quicker and more direct access (not passed around).