Audit report finds too many adults with mental health problems do not get the support they need

There are still too many variations in the provision of adult mental health services throughout Wales, and too many people are not getting the support they need, according to a new Assembly Audit Committee report. The report, Adult Mental Health Services in Wales: A Baseline Review of Service Provision, published today (Wednesday July 19) recommends that the NHS, local government, public health and the voluntary sector need to work together to improve services. The Welsh Assembly Government has identified mental health as one its priorities, but the Committee found that it is not always a local priority and the ability to effectively commission mental health services for local populations is being hampered by a lack of staff with specialist skills in this area.   This is not a problem unique to Wales, but the report says it is “disappointing” to note that neighbouring Local Health Boards have not worked in partnership to develop more “collegiate” commissioning. According to the report, a further challenge will be to develop services which have a greater focus on the prevention and early detection of mental health problems.  Although the importance of mental health promotion and early intervention is recognised in much of the Assembly Government’s strategic and policy guidance, many service users and carers indicate that they can only obtain access to specialist support if they are experiencing a mental health crisis.  The report says this is “unacceptable”. Access to community mental health teams outside normal working hours is also vital.  Some parts of Wales do not have adequate crisis resolution or assertive outreach services and many mental health patients are housed in accommodation which is inappropriate to their needs and typically community mental health teams only operate during normal working hours.  As a result many patients are not receiving the right support at the right time to fully aid their recovery. Janet Davies AM, Chair of the Committee, said: “Our examination focused on the steps that are being taken to improve adult mental health services in Wales. In particular we sought to obtain assurances that robust and co-ordinated action is being taken to address the key gaps in service provision identified by the Auditor General for Wales. We found that there have been improvements in many areas, but there are still too many people who are not being given the support they need. The Welsh Assembly Government and local agencies need to take urgent action to address these concerns.”