Quarterly report to Systems Quality Group: Focus on mental health
Download (PDF 1.52 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch organisations across West Yorkshire undertook research on people’s experiences of mental health services between October 2025 and January 2026. The report drew on feedback collected through local Healthwatch enquiry lines, advocacy services, outreach work and West Yorkshire Voice engagement activities.
The report found significant challenges accessing mental health support. People described long waiting lists, difficulties navigating services, limited early intervention and barriers accessing crisis support. Many reported being discharged too soon, receiving time-limited interventions that ended before trust had been established, and feeling lost in a system that was difficult to understand. Long waits for autism and ADHD assessments were also having a substantial impact on children, young people and their families.
Communication and coordination between services were recurring concerns. People described being passed between organisations, repeatedly retelling their story and struggling to access joined-up support, particularly where they had multiple conditions. While staff were frequently praised for being caring, compassionate and skilled, respondents felt overstretched services and high caseloads often prevented professionals from providing the level of support needed. Concerns were also raised about poor communication during waiting periods, inconsistent quality of support, difficult transitions between children's and adult services, and barriers faced by neurodivergent people, Deaf people, people from racially diverse communities and those experiencing addiction, homelessness or financial hardship.
Healthwatch concluded that there are significant risks associated with growing barriers to mental health support, digital exclusion, long waiting times, widening inequalities and increasing dependence on unpaid carers. The report warned that people may delay seeking help until reaching crisis point, that children and young people’s mental health may deteriorate while waiting for treatment, and that reductions in service provision risk creating a two-tier system where those who can afford private support access help more quickly than those who cannot.