Total beds available for Mental Illness in England

The total number of beds available for mental patients has steadily declined in recent years in response to acute funding pressures in the NHS and a latent preference for physical illness over psychosis. This is creating intolerable pressure on families and care in the community resources and frequently results in young people being sent for treatment hundreds of miles from where they live. This is unacceptable.

Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) in the NHS

The demand for psychological treatment has escalated dramatically in recent years. Whilst Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) treatments has risen, it has not kept pace with demand and increasing numbers of referrals are being refused. The net effect is that treatment thresholds are rising – sufferers have to be in ever deeper crisis before they can access care. Those accepted for treatment are then faced with weak pathways and absurd waiting lists, leaving sufferers, families and communities in despair and anguish. This is unacceptable.

(Source: The MindEd Trust)