NHS and Mental Health - Project Focus

Introduction

A lot of students in this day and age have issues with mental health and deserve to get the support they need. I sent out a survey to explore the experiences that students have had with NHS mental health services to see if the stereotypes are true for all cases, and see what the best approach to mental health support may be. 

Stereotypes

Respondents largely said that they agreed with existing stereotypes surrounding NHS mental health services, which typically revolved around understaffing, lack of resources, and generally not being great.  

Mental Health Statistics

Current mental health statistics include:

• Estimated 3.58 million people in contact with NHS mental services at some point during 2022/2023.

• More than 40,000 people with mental health problems are supported into employment.

• 5,583 suicides registered in England and Wales in 2021.

Diagnosis Experiences

There was a mixed response to the survey regarding experiences with diagnoses through the NHS. The main consensus was that there was a long wait for a diagnosis, attributed to understaffing and lack of resources. In some cases, respondents faced issues where their specific case wasn’t viewed as “bad enough” for a diagnosis. However, it's important to note that there were some respondents who had no issues with the diagnostic process.

Prescription and Support Experiences

A lot of respondents noted that there was a lack of support for them after their diagnosis, with some medical professionals simply providing them with medication and failing to follow up. Some respondents did say that they received help in the form of a psychiatrist, but the support was inadequate.

Advice 

A lot of respondents suggested that it might be worth going private due to the wait times and lack of support offered. For those who cannot afford to go private, be prepared to stand your ground and consistently follow up with the NHS. Do it sooner rather than later because, in some cases, it can take up to two years for a diagnosis.

Sources

Personally conducted Survey (questionnaire)

Mental health statistics: prevalence, services and funding in England | House of Commons Library 

Mental health | Office for National Statistics

NHS helps tens of thousands of people with mental health problems into work | NHS England