Rethink Mental Illness, as part of the first ever National Psychosis Summit, released their report Investing in Recovery: making the business case for for effective interventions for people with Schizophrenia & Psychosis.
The report outlined that mental healthcare cuts cost the NHS £millions in the long-term; with many more folk experiencing severe mental illness ending up in hospital, & for extended periods. Community mental health care is simply not responding to the demand on services - with fewer people having access to early intervention treatments & talking therapies due to reduced capacity & waiting lists. Believe it or not, over a 10 yr period, for every £1 spent on early intervention services, we as a society save £15 - how is it such services are being cut on a national level?
Shifting the focus of care to the community, i.e. actually transferring the savings from bed closures to community services, might have the effect of saving mental health services some £50m each year: to support someone experiencing psychosis within community care costs on average £13 per day; occupying a mental health hospital bed costs some £350 per day on average. Family interventions - information, education, involvement, & therapy for the family unit - results in a saving of some £1,350 per year per psychotic patient. Family work in Schizophrenia is fast disappearing!
Over 50% of the cash spent on psychosis devolves to in-patient care, not prevention or early detection. £14m might be saved if Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment teams could stay in touch with even half of those at risk of admission for psychosis - in some regions they are involved with only 5%, a twentieth, of these folk!
With some 2.3% cut last year this overwhelming emphasis on in-patient care is a serious resource trap! Almost £1,000 is saved each time Cognitive Behavioural Therapy supersedes an admission, & whilst mental illness makes up 23% of the disease burden, it accrues only 13% of the health budget - yet psychiatric services are asked to make 20% deeper cuts than physical in-patient services.
This National Psychosis Summit aimed to identify & address the systemic problems which prevent investment in quality, fair, & widespread services, based on humanity, respect, & best practice, for those in our communities who experience these most frightening & debilitating illnesses.
We wish the Summit well, but ain't gonna hold our breath… plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!
14 April 2014
01 April 2014
Sustainability & Resilience
Hi to the guys who are chasing down our eco-therapy ideas... did you know some MSM folk have taken on a few allotment beds at Cheslyn Hay Allotments? They're gonna be doing our 'Return2Roots' strategy in real-life! You really must check this out this 'idea site' http://www.resilience.org as well as http://challotments.wordpress.com/
Just grow some stuff; a small bed, a tub, a window-box... owt! This idea, of responding to environment & aspiration & commitment, kind of sums up our position as a client-led charity - whilst commissioners may not pay for it, or even see it as important, we believe it is important to make friends & meet'em, & share activity; on a bad day, it can be the only reason to get up & get out & do stuff!
We must stop apologising for wanting friendship & activity groups. A fair few of us like to drop-in to see our mates; we like some regularity & structure, & social support, which some sneer at as 'tea & buns' therapy, can prove as effective as contact with'professionals'. We do need space, sometimes protected, in which to engage & belong... it's all about relationships & friendships... the rest is just window dressing!
Just grow some stuff; a small bed, a tub, a window-box... owt! This idea, of responding to environment & aspiration & commitment, kind of sums up our position as a client-led charity - whilst commissioners may not pay for it, or even see it as important, we believe it is important to make friends & meet'em, & share activity; on a bad day, it can be the only reason to get up & get out & do stuff!
We must stop apologising for wanting friendship & activity groups. A fair few of us like to drop-in to see our mates; we like some regularity & structure, & social support, which some sneer at as 'tea & buns' therapy, can prove as effective as contact with'professionals'. We do need space, sometimes protected, in which to engage & belong... it's all about relationships & friendships... the rest is just window dressing!
29 March 2014
Where's my cheesecake?
A great article on stigma by Tania Browne - it's got irritation, ideas, & cake!
26 March 2014
Money doesn't always have to be the bottom line
"Our gross national product (GNP ) now is over $800 million dollars a year, but that GNP - if we should judge the USA by that - counts air pollution & cigarette advertising & ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors & the jails for the people who break them. It counts the destruction of the redwoods & the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm, & it counts nuclear warheads, & armoured cars for the police to fight the riots in our cities. It counts the television programmes which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.
Yet the GNP does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile, & it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud we are Americans."
Yet the GNP does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile, & it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud we are Americans."
Senator Robert Kennedy, March 1968
The health & wellbeing of our society, our community, our loved ones, & ourselves should not be measured in terms of finance alone. Whether the government gives money & priority to banks / business or healthcare / education is ultimately a simple choice - or idealogical statement… click here or here & here as well
20 March 2014
NICE & new: guidelines for Psychosis & Schizophrenia in Adults
Last month, the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence published it's new recommendations for the care & treatment of psychosis & schizophrenia. Clinical Guideline 178, although not enforceable, updates the guidelines based on consultation, research, & best practice. Much more emphasis is placed on ready access to services, physical wellbeing, peer support, the role & needs of carers.
Rethink Mental Illness have responded by producing a simple guide to what should ideally be offered to people experiencing severe mental illness. Well worth a look...
Rethink Mental Illness have responded by producing a simple guide to what should ideally be offered to people experiencing severe mental illness. Well worth a look...
18 March 2014
World Mental Health Day
Friday 10th October brings us World Mental Health Day 2014.
This years theme is 'Living with Schizophrenia' & provides a great opportunity to take on the misunderstandings, the myths, & the stigma attached to this debilitating illness.
As we move towards the second anniversary of the 'Abandoned Illness' report by the Schizophrenia Commission (November 2012), we will have the chance to see whether their shattering findings & specific recommendations have resulted in any meaningful improvements in the care & treatment offered to those who experience this severe, often isolating, condition.
Through the personal experience of folk who make up our social groups & activities, MSM will be gearing-up to engage with this years theme in a full & heartfelt manner - updates will appear on the MSM website (& here, but, as you can see, sporadically!) If you have any ideas &/or would like to get actively involved get in touch.
This years theme is 'Living with Schizophrenia' & provides a great opportunity to take on the misunderstandings, the myths, & the stigma attached to this debilitating illness.
As we move towards the second anniversary of the 'Abandoned Illness' report by the Schizophrenia Commission (November 2012), we will have the chance to see whether their shattering findings & specific recommendations have resulted in any meaningful improvements in the care & treatment offered to those who experience this severe, often isolating, condition.
Through the personal experience of folk who make up our social groups & activities, MSM will be gearing-up to engage with this years theme in a full & heartfelt manner - updates will appear on the MSM website (& here, but, as you can see, sporadically!) If you have any ideas &/or would like to get actively involved get in touch.
14 March 2014
Mental health promises broken again
Cuts in the budget for mental health services fly in the face of government & NHS promises to treat mental & physical health equally.
A Guardian letter (posted below) from the chief officers of leading mental health organisations reflects the widespread anger felt over ministers, health service leaders, & Monitor (NHS finance regulator) agreeing a 1.8% cut in non-acute care, which includes mental health services. Acute hospital services will undergo a 1.5% cut.
The powers-that-be are seeking to raise £150m to pay make up the shortfall in extra acute hospital staff identified by the Francis Report as a factor in the abject care failure at Stafford. NHS leaders state non-acute service providers do not need to tackle any understaffing simply as Francis did not make such a recommendation - i.e. non-acute services are not yet rubbish enough to 'maintain' budgets.
Given various ministers, David Cameron included, have been categoric in stating staffing must be brought up to safe levels across all NHS care services, even minister for Care & Support, Norman Lamb, views this decision as 'flawed & unacceptable'.
At a time when involuntary admissions continue to record highs; up 4% from 48,600 to 50,400 in 2012; up a profit-making 17% in private hospitals (3,600 to 4,300) in the same year; when at least 1,700 mental health beds have been closed in the last couple of years; with the upward trend in the 21st century suicide rate maintained, is this really the best time to continue hacking & slashing? There's already enough poor management going on: bed shortages mean millions siphoned to the private sector, severely ill patients sent to facilities miles from home & hope, hot-bedding, premature discharge; the Cornish out-of-hours crisis response service consists of 2 nurses & a social worker, providing cover to 500,000 people.
Turning Point chief executive Victor Adebowale, who actually sits on the Board of NHS England, says the decision was not discussed prior to being nodded through. Whilst head of NHS England David Nicholson, who many see as sharing responsibility for the Mid Staffs tragedy, acknowledges (nb: not 'accepts') criticism for the decision-making process but states it will not be reviewed as acute hospitals need more cash to hire nurses to reach minimum safety levels. Peter is most definitely being robbed to pay Paul & unsurprisingly, but worryingly, Lord Adebowale characterises the decision as 'bordering on laughable'.
In the last 2 years overall mental health trust budgets have shrunk in real terms by 2.3%; crisis resolution spend fell 1.7% while referrals rose 16%; community mental health budgets flatlined, but referrals rose 13%. There is no evidence that money saved closing psychiatric beds is being used to boost community mental health services.
Surely government & NHS decision-makers are not depending on us not noticing the glaring disparity between their mis/disinformation & the reality of everyday life. These people are public servants & as such must listen to us, our concerns, our needs, our aspirations. They must be forced to think again...
Mind has launched a petition to ensure mental health services are given their fair share of funding, have a look at what they have to say & sign up HERE
A Guardian letter (posted below) from the chief officers of leading mental health organisations reflects the widespread anger felt over ministers, health service leaders, & Monitor (NHS finance regulator) agreeing a 1.8% cut in non-acute care, which includes mental health services. Acute hospital services will undergo a 1.5% cut.
The powers-that-be are seeking to raise £150m to pay make up the shortfall in extra acute hospital staff identified by the Francis Report as a factor in the abject care failure at Stafford. NHS leaders state non-acute service providers do not need to tackle any understaffing simply as Francis did not make such a recommendation - i.e. non-acute services are not yet rubbish enough to 'maintain' budgets.
Given various ministers, David Cameron included, have been categoric in stating staffing must be brought up to safe levels across all NHS care services, even minister for Care & Support, Norman Lamb, views this decision as 'flawed & unacceptable'.
At a time when involuntary admissions continue to record highs; up 4% from 48,600 to 50,400 in 2012; up a profit-making 17% in private hospitals (3,600 to 4,300) in the same year; when at least 1,700 mental health beds have been closed in the last couple of years; with the upward trend in the 21st century suicide rate maintained, is this really the best time to continue hacking & slashing? There's already enough poor management going on: bed shortages mean millions siphoned to the private sector, severely ill patients sent to facilities miles from home & hope, hot-bedding, premature discharge; the Cornish out-of-hours crisis response service consists of 2 nurses & a social worker, providing cover to 500,000 people.
Turning Point chief executive Victor Adebowale, who actually sits on the Board of NHS England, says the decision was not discussed prior to being nodded through. Whilst head of NHS England David Nicholson, who many see as sharing responsibility for the Mid Staffs tragedy, acknowledges (nb: not 'accepts') criticism for the decision-making process but states it will not be reviewed as acute hospitals need more cash to hire nurses to reach minimum safety levels. Peter is most definitely being robbed to pay Paul & unsurprisingly, but worryingly, Lord Adebowale characterises the decision as 'bordering on laughable'.
In the last 2 years overall mental health trust budgets have shrunk in real terms by 2.3%; crisis resolution spend fell 1.7% while referrals rose 16%; community mental health budgets flatlined, but referrals rose 13%. There is no evidence that money saved closing psychiatric beds is being used to boost community mental health services.
Surely government & NHS decision-makers are not depending on us not noticing the glaring disparity between their mis/disinformation & the reality of everyday life. These people are public servants & as such must listen to us, our concerns, our needs, our aspirations. They must be forced to think again...
Mind has launched a petition to ensure mental health services are given their fair share of funding, have a look at what they have to say & sign up HERE
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