Sarah Randell’s Post

New Zealand is trialling a multi-agency response model for mental health emergencies, moving away from a police-first approach. This model, involving paramedics, police, and mental health professionals, aims to provide more appropriate and effective care. Key Benefits: Reduced police time on mental health callouts by 30%. Highly valued paramedic involvement, enhancing connection and care. Foundation's Viewpoint: Allister Rose of Hatikvah: Blue Hope Foundation supports this health department-led initiative, emphasizing the need for specialized responses in mental health crises. A Step Towards Better Care: This shift marks a significant move towards improved mental health care, aligning with national advocacy for compassionate and specialized responses. 🔵 Your Thoughts? How will this change impact our community? #MentalHealthAwareness #NewZealandPolice #CommunityCare #HatikvahBlueHopeFoundation https://lnkd.in/gVsD_2aU

The erosion of funding for mental health patients has been announced, coinciding with Australians facing the highest rates of mental health illness. From post-COVID trauma, bushfire survivors, to recent crises like the Israel-Gaza war, the impact is widespread. Additionally, challenges persist for neurodiverse individuals and those with ASD, facing difficulties accessing essential services through NDIS. Disguised as "simplifying Medicare," these cuts exceed $150 million PER YEAR, impacting vital programs like Better Access. Data and statistics must not be overlooked; adequate mental health support is essential. It's crucial to stand against these funding cuts to ensure patients receive the care they urgently need. #MentalHealth #FundingCuts #BetterAccess #Protest Dr Nick Tellis Michael Clements Ian KAMERMAN Dan Halliday Dr Karyn M. Todd Cameron Rick McKee Louisa Case Margaret Swenson Amanda Roberts Elaine Davies Mary Lumsden Chantelle Brott

In 1971 as an 11 year old I struggled with my mental health and depression. I got support and treatment and within 18 months I was fine. A decade ago I chaired the rewriting of the CAMHS National occupational standards across the 4 UK nations. The lack of staffing and provision was shocking. As CEO of an organisation providing specialist support for young people around drug and alcohol use 5 years ago, we found much of our time was seeing those with mental health issues not drugs and alcohol. As CEO of Parentkind I regularly conducted surveys of thousands of parents and saw increasing concerns about children’s mental health and the lack of support in recent years. This included a significant number of parents concerned about the mental health of primary school children. In terms of what parents want from schools support for mental health was in their top three asks. Parents told use that young people identified as having SEND issues within schools can wait years for assessment We heard one case of a young person recently admitted to a psychiatric inpatient ward and then released back onto a CAMHS waiting list they had been on for over a year. Failure to address the mental health and well-being of young people will continue to ruin the lives of young people far into adulthood. It is shocking that services certainly from my experience were better in 1971 than they are today. We have many dedicated and brilliant staff working in children’s mental health services but for decades the lack of investment has meant they have been unable to meet demand. With fewer young people in the UK we need as a society to nurture them as our future, we are failing for too many.

This is the best news in recent months....... hopefully with this investment something tangible will be delivered that results in a significant reduction in the associated statistics Major National Strategy to Reduce Number of Tragic Suicides The UK government has launched a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy with a £10 million grant fund to support mental health services. This initiative includes real-time surveillance of suicide trends, regulatory changes to limit the sale of lethal substances, and expanded mental health support in schools. The strategy aims to reduce the number of suicides and improve early intervention efforts. Learn more at GOV.UK. #MentalHealthStrategy #SuicideAwareness #SuicidePrevention #SupportServices

Mental health is essential to a person’s life in the same way as physical health. Hesitation to talk about mental health adds to the notion that the topic is taboo. It is important to normalize conversations surrounding mental health so people can feel empowered to seek the help they need. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Normalizing these conversations with older adults may be an uncomfortable but it is important. #OlderAmericansMonth #MHAM2024

https://lnkd.in/eFHdtMFT While Compassionate Cuppa does not provide any mental health support within an inpatient setting, we are all too aware of numerous 'delayed discharges' - this is happens on most (if not all) of the adult acute units in Hampshire. This 'invisible issue' impacts beyond the person who is well enough to leave but can't due to the lack of onward accommodation that's suitable. If a person requires Supported Accommodation, they are likely to require a Social Care Needs Assessment. With a shortage of Social Workers to undertake this, the delayed discharge is likely to run into weeks... Which isn't great for the individual in terms of their mental health recovery. 🙇♂️ Delayed discharges also have an effect on admissions, when someone is in mental health crisis and there is no bed available for them to be admitted to hospital. That person could be your friend or relative... How would you cope if that happened to you or your loved one? 🤦♂️ For things to improve, unfortunately there are no 'quick fixes' with regards to shortages with staff or accommodation - there are many different changes in the system that would need to happen, both within inpatient settings and in the community. We are about supporting you with your mental health, where ever you are in your journey. 💜 Together, let's make mental health a priority. 💜 Image description: At the top is the title Delayed Discharges: Barriers to Mental Health Recovery. In the middle is a poorly woman in bed with a thermometer, and a clock to her left. On the bottom left are the hashtags #SocialCare #MentalHealthMatters #SupportYourJourney. On the bottom right is the Compassionate Cuppa logo. #MentalHealthMatters #DelayedDischarges #SupportNeeded #InvisibleIssue #InpatientCare #SocialCare #MentalHealthRecovery #HealthcareCrisis #SystemicChange #CommunitySupport #MentalHealthAwareness #CompassionateCare #MentalHealthSupport #PrioritiseMentalHealth #SupportYourJourney

Are you a  public health professional; commissioner and/or a provider in the NHS, local authority; and/or voluntary and community sector? If so, this post is for you! The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published new guidance on the mental health of babies, children and young people in England. The guidance highlights factors influencing the mental health of children and young people and sets these out in a framework to guide promotion and prevention. #mentalhealth

America’s Mental Health Is Worsening. Special Urgent-Care Clinics Step In. Mental-health urgent-care sites are proliferating across the U.S. to treat the spiraling numbers of children and adults who need mental-health care and ease a shortage of therapists that has caused many people to wait months for appointments or go to the nearest emergency room to find help. The sites are starting to change the face of mental-health treatment, offering a much-needed alternative to emergency departments—long the first point of contact for people in mental-health straits—that have become strained by an increase in visits during the pandemic. More than 20 mental-health urgent-care centers have opened in the past year alone from Colorado to Virginia. A letter published in the journal Psychiatric Services in 2021 identified 77 of the clinics across the U.S.

Official NHS data published for the first time has revealed the extent of long waits for community mental health services, including more than 24,000 children and young people who have been waiting almost two years to be seen. The data also revealed the median, or typical, waiting time for children and young people from referral to first contact was 178 days, although this varied between ICSs. Meanwhile, children in the 90th percentile were waiting an average of 694 days for first contact. You can view HSJ's table (made with Flourish) of the ICSs with the longest median and 90th percentile waits for children and young people here: https://lnkd.in/ePiu2iHE And you can read the story in full here: https://lnkd.in/ePrjcXhG

We don’t say this lightly. The number of young people struggling with their mental health is at an all-time high. Yesterday the Government had another opportunity to announce plans for the future in the Autumn budget, but there was no mention of improving mental health support for young people. It’s unacceptable. Young people make up around 18% of demand on NHS mental health services, but receive just 8% of the budget. This isn’t sustainable. The current system simply cannot cope with the huge pressure to keep up with demand. Waiting times will get longer. More young people will likely end up in crisis. Staff already working above and beyond their call of duty will be stretched even more thinly. We can’t call this a crisis anymore. This is a mental health emergency. And the Government need to take radical action. Every young person should be able to get the support they need, when they need it, no matter what. We won’t give up on making this happen. #AutumnBudget #JeremyHunt #MentalHealthEmergency