Gp-level mental health workers to help tackle rising depression
MORE than 2,000 mental health workers will be recruited to work at GP practices as part of efforts to tackle unprecedented demand for help.
Health chiefs intend to send teams to every part of England to ensure that those suffering from conditions such as eating disorders or severe depression can access help more quickly.
Under the initiative, patients can be given longer appointments than a standard GP slot, allowing them to discuss complex issues and get the right help.
The scheme, which has just hired almost 500 practitioners, will be rolled out over the next nine months to respond to a growing mental health crisis.
Official figures show a near-doubling of depression since the first lockdown, while the number of adults referred for help has risen by almost a fifth.
In February, James Starkie, a former adviser to the Cabinet ministers, Michael Gove, Priti Patel and Dominic Raab, launched the No Time to Wait campaign in The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Starkie described his battle to get help from the NHS when he was at his lowest ebb and his determination to improve access for others.
His calls have already been backed by ministers, MPS from across the political spectrum, mental health charities and the Royal College of Nursing.
The initiative by NHS England involves community psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists and peer support workers, trained up after experiencing their own mental health crises.
The NHS is providing funding for two mental health practitioners for every group of GP practices in a local area, meaning up to 2,500 workers will be recruited in total.
Health chiefs said the move would free up GPS to focus on routine care, as well as improving the help given to patients with mental health problems.
Official figures show more than 710,000 adults referred to mental health services in the 12 months ending in March 2022, up from 604,362 in the 12 months up to March 2020.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: “Giving people convenient care for mental ill health is a lifeline.
“NHS patients and their families know that better access to NHS mental health support in their community, including through their GP, not only goes with the grain of how people like to seek help, but also helps with common conditions before they escalate into something even more serious or something that can result in a stay in hospital.”
Mr Starkie said: “The increase in demand for mental health services post pandemic is a major challenge for the NHS and these additional roles can help meet that demand.
“Speeding up access for support is crucial and that’s why the No Time to Wait campaign I run is calling for the Government to go a step further and introduce mental health nurses to each GP surgery in the country.”