This Monday marked the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week. In recent years, we have seen an alarming rise in mental health issues, affecting a diverse population across all ages and backgrounds. The role of healthcare in addressing this issue is crucial. Newcross Healthcare is leading the charge, offering comprehensive care and support.
Increase in Mental Health Issues in UK Population
The rise in mental health issues is a serious concern affecting individuals, families, and societies. Various factors ranging from the cost-of-living crisis, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the stressful demands of modern life, societal stigma, to global events have had significant psychological impacts.
The 2014 survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing in England found that 1 in 6 people aged 16+ had experienced symptoms of a common mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety in the past week. During the coronavirus pandemic, the number of adults with moderate or severe depressive symptoms in Great Britain rose by 11%.
With mental health problems costing the UK economy at least £118 billion a year, and a spike in the number of adults facing mental health issues since the onset of the pandemic, there is no doubting the scale of care demand in the UK. Last May alone, upwards of 25% of the entire NHS workforce was off sick, citing poor mental health as the primary reason.
Supply And Demand Gap in Mental Health Care
Recently, the UK has grappled with a gap between the demand for mental health care, and the supply of specialist healthcare staff available to provide support.
Research by the NHS Confederation suggests that the increase in mental health nurses in the NHS has been offset by the high number of vacancies in mental health nursing positions. Mental health trusts account for a staggering 30% of all nursing vacancies in the NHS. A statistic further exasperated by recent findings from The King’s Fund and Skills for Care which highlighted overall vacancies across social care was near double the rate of unemployment in the UK.
One of the most immediate effects of the decreased numbers of mental health care trained staff is the strain it places on the existing workforce. With fewer staff available to provide care, those who remain face increased workloads and heightened stress levels. The 2022 NHS annual survey found that work-related stress impacted 44.8% of staff, with the NHS having a higher-than-average stress-related sickness absence level compared to other job sectors in the UK. This not only compromises the quality of care but also contributes to burnout and attrition rates among mental health professionals. As a result, the retention of experienced staff becomes a significant challenge, further perpetuating the staffing shortage.
Moreover, the shortage of specialised staff has a significant impact on patient safety, impeding timely access to vital services for individuals in need. Long wait times for appointments and limited availability of specialised care exacerbate the suffering of those dealing with mental health issues.
Innovative Strategies in Mental Health Care
With the decline in the number of mental health nurses impacting patient care and outcomes, what can be done to bridge the gap between the demand for support and the workforce supply? One solution is the implementation of innovative strategies utilising mental healthcare technology tailored to the unique needs of individuals dealing with poor mental health.
As part of the NHS Long Term Plan‘s ambition to deliver digital innovation and increase the number of people who have access to talking therapies by a quarter, there has been an increase in the use of digital interventions and technology such as video consultations, phone consultations and computerised CBT.
This pivot to the use of mental health technology has also seen an investment of £36 million in several AI technologies, such as Wysa, an AI-powered app to help tackle symptoms of anxiety and depression while also identifying people experiencing severe mental health difficulties.
Another instance of the use of mental health technology is the implementation of electronic records, which have replaced conventional paper-based systems, enabling nurses to store, retrieve, and update patient information with ease. As part of an increased focus on the adoption of technology in the NHS, 42 integrated care systems have adopted a shared electronic health care record. This digital shift has not only improved accuracy but has also boosted the overall quality of care rendered.
How Newcross is Helping
At Newcross Healthcare, we recognise that in addition to the long-term solutions to the mental healthcare gap provided by technological advancements, we also need to provide immediate solutions.
One way to address the skills gap and shortage of mental healthcare trained staff is upskilling the current workforce. We can support nurses and healthcare staff who want a career in mental healthcare to increase their skillset and gain free specialist mental health training via FuturU, our comprehensive learning platform provider.
We also provide Inner Wellness webinars for all NHS and social care professionals, completely free of charge, to provide individuals with the right tools to manage stress and anxiety in a healthy way and take control of their emotions. Our free wellness webinars have already been accessed by dozens of NHS trusts around the country. Click here to find out more.
We are also actively investing in healthcare technology to enhance the delivery of care and improve the overall healthcare experience. We recognise the potential of technology to transform the healthcare industry and are committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements that directly contribute to better outcomes for all.
