Mental health services ‘underfunded, overstretched’
The number of under 18-year -olds referred to mental health services in West Sussex is at a five-year high, according to figures released by the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Following a Freedom of Information request by this newspaper, the mental health trust revealed the total number of referrals for all age groups in West Sussex in 2013 and 2018 was 31,295 and 38,350 – an increase of 22.5 per cent.
Looking at the statistics for under 18 year olds in the county, the figures show a big rise in the number of referrals in the fiveyear period from 2013 to 2018 – going from 5,684 up to 6,436 – a 13.2 per cent increase.
In 2016, the figure was 5,595; in 2017 it jumped to 6,290; then in 2018 it hit the highest in five years at 6,436.
After analysing the figures, the Gazette spoke to the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s chief medical officer Rick Fraser.
He revealed the trust was in the process of overseeing a ‘major review’ of its child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
He added: “Nationally, year on year, there is an increase in demand for CAMH services but they are stretched. Part of the overall rise is due to the increase in CAMH referrals.
“People like me are responsible for helping design services. We have to make sure the services are fit for purpose and put our efforts into upgrading our CAMH services. People who use the services tell us CAMHS are good once you are in but getting in is difficult. That is partly because of its capacity to see all the people coming their way.”
Dr Fraser said the trust is also ‘looking to increase the funding that we have to spend on our children’s services’.
“CAMHS and learning disabilities have not been funded as well as general mental health, which is still only 12 per cent of spend,” he said. The figures show there has been improved access but the challenge for us as a provider is whether we can meet that need. Mental health services are underfunded and overstretched.
“We have our own clinical strategy within the trust to deal with it and to make the best use of the money and resources we have. That aside, we are still underfunded compared to physical health care. We know people with severe mental health problems will die up to 20 years earlier than people without.”
According to the trust’s figures, Chichester was the only area in West Sussex to have seen a decrease in overall referrals between 2017 and 2018 (7,943 to 7,908) – a decrease of 0.44 per cent.
Referrals in Worthing went from 11,776 up to 11,879 between 2017 and 2018 – an increase of 0.87 per cent.
The Crawley, Horsham and Mid-sussex area saw the largest increase between 2017 and 2018, going from 15,083 up to 16,353 – an increase of 8.42 per cent.
However, looking at the five- year picture, all areas have seen significant increases.
In Chichester from 2013 to 2018, it went from 7,289 to 7,908 (8.5 per cent increase).
In Worthing, it went from 9,801 to 11,879 (21.2 per cent increase). In Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex, it went from 12,283 to 16,353 (33.1 per cent increase).
According to Dr Fraser, the solution will come ‘once we get that funding disparity addressed’ and urged mental health sufferers to seek help as soon as possible.
He added: “Part of that is raising awareness so people know there is an issue, whilst also reducing stigma so people do go and seek help sooner rather than later and don’t present it when they are in crisis.
“They should go when they get the first niggles of a problem.” Dr Fraser said the future for mental health providers lies with early intervention and a better intervention strategy.
He went on to highlight the following: “Prevention, home treatment and rapid response so people don’t have to wait and can get into services quickly and get the help they need at an early stage. Some illnesses can evolve and get more difficult to treat which can lead to crisis and hospital admissions.”
On a positive note, Dr Fraser said the suicide rate in West Sussex is below national average and life expectancy is higher than average.
“We haven’t got a county crisis in terms of mental health at all,” he added.
West Sussex County Council said it is providing ‘funded care packages’ to approximately 450 people who have mental health needs, as well as ‘many others’ through professional support and advice.
A spokesman added: “We provide social care services for people with mental health needs in an integrated service with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. These include, care and support at home, and helping people to manage their own health and wellbeing so that they can live independently and occasionally residential care.
“This help is delivered by social workers, approved mental health professionals and support workers, all of whom work as part of integrated teams with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.”
n There are CAMHS teams based in Worthing, Chichester and Horsham. For more information, visit www. sussexpartnership.nhs.uk