England’s mental health policy leading Europe, says WHO
pharmafile | October 10, 2008 | News story | |Â Â NHS, mental healthÂ
A new report from the World Health Organisation says England's mental health care has undergone a 'transformation' in the last 10 years, and is now setting an example for the rest of Europe.
Published to mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the report highlighted a number of areas in which the country had invested in improving the mental health of its population.
Mental health was one of the very first areas in the health service targeted by the Labour government for new investment and reform after it came to power in 1997. In 1999, the first National Service Framework for Mental Health was launched, with Prof Louis Appleby appointed the following year as mental health 'czar'.
The WHO says sustained investment has paid off in terms of the services available, and is likely to have a long-term positive impact on the lives of patients.
Highlights include:
* England directs 13.8% of the health budget towards mental health – the highest level in Europe among those who submitted figures.
* High levels of access to mental health care, with 12.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 population, compared to the European average of 8.9.
* Access to mental health nursing care is also higher than average, with 51.9 nurses per 100,000, compared with the European average of 18.7.
* England is the only country to provide a comprehensive network of specialist early intervention teams.
* It is one of only three countries to provide comprehensive access to assertive outreach teams.
* England has 23 mental health beds per 100,000, reflecting continued focus on moving mental health treatment out of institutions and into the community.
Matt Muijen, Regional Adviser for Mental Health, WHO Europe, said: "The ambition and pace of change in England have been remarkable over the last 10 years, and mental health services here are increasingly being seen across Europe as a model to follow.
"This does not mean that everything is perfect in England – but I am saying that the political will as demonstrated by the financial investment in order to produce a nationwide comprehensive and co-ordinated system of care is impressive, and is recognised internationally as such."
Muijen said the report "reflects real improvements in resources, workforce and community services that should be reflected in patients' experiences", and that the WHO would aim to share with other countries what had been learned in England.
The government says it is committed to continued improvement of mental health services. It success so far has been built on increased spending, with investment in adult services increasing by £1.7 billion since 2001/02, which has led to what it calls 'radical improvements'.
The country now have over 60% more consultant psychiatrists, almost 80% more clinical psychologists and at least 20% more mental health nurses than in 1997, to help give care and support for people with mental health problems.
Alan Johnson said: "I'm delighted that the WHO has recognised the transformation in mental health care in England over the last ten years. On World Mental Health Day, this is a huge tribute to the thousands of committed front line staff who have built a service we now know ranks among the very best.
"Our level of investment in mental health has risen to one of the highest in Europe and we now have over 700 teams providing innovative community based services as instead of treating people in hospital." he said, concluding that the 'outdated and pernicious' concept of 'the asylum' had been consigned to history, and that modern services were still evolving."
An update of the National Services Framework on Mental Health is expected in late 2009.
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