Mental health services in Bath and North East Somerset are “insufficient” at meeting people’s needs, a health watchdog has said.
A report by Healthwatch into mental health services during the pandemic in Bath and North East Somerset, together with Swindon and Wiltshire, with whom the area runs services, found that: “mental health services are insufficient in meeting the needs of the populations.”
People praised voluntary organisations but had more negative experiences with health and care services.
The report said that more training and support was needed, particularly in trauma, eating disorders, and children’s services.
A central issue was that people felt it was too difficult to access services.
One person told the survey: “People go from one crisis to the next. [You ] can only get in hospital now if you’re sectioned.”
The report said there was “an urgent need for more trauma informed services.”
Breakthrough, who provide specialist trauma therapy in Twerton, reported a doubling in referrals in 2021 compared to 2020.
Meanwhile, Julian House, which provides outreach for people homeless in Bath, said that everyone in their Manvers Street hostel required support for underlying trauma.
Bath Carer’s Centre said carers’ mental health had suffered during the pandemic, and that 2021 had been even worse than 2020.
The report stated: “A number of carers reported being traumatised by the experience of caring during the pandemic when support services were reduced, schools shut down, and having reduced family support.”
Several people told the survey there was a lack of services for eating disorders, and that support for this was better at Southmead Hospital in Bristol than at Bath’s Royal United Hospital.
One survey respondent said: “The RUH needs to be more geared towards eating disorder provision. Essentially the Bath area should have an eating disorder unit and outpatients service.”
The Healthwatch report also highlighted the findings of a recent Youth Connect South West report which raised the need to signpost services for children and young people so they know what they can access.
One young person said: “We need more help and more education surrounding help and where to find it.”
Another added: “I would like someone to talk to who isn’t family, friends or school.”
Issues young people had with the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service were also raised. Some young people found its Keynsham location inaccessible and the waiting times too long.
Waiting times were one of the main themes in the barriers to accessing mental health services. Multiple people stressed that it was important to get support quickly and not just when in crisis, as waiting months can lead to things getting worse.
The report was delivered to Bath and North East Somerset’s Health and Wellbeing board on 24th January.
Dine Romero, the chair of the board and the council’s cabinet member for children, young people, and communities, said: “The board welcomed this report which highlighted in particular the experience of people using mental health services during the Covid pandemic.
“We recognised that mental health partners for this area […] need to work together to improve people’s experience of those using mental health services.
“We have asked for further updates on mental health provision for a future Health & Wellbeing board meeting.”
Details about accessing mental health advice and support in Bath and North East Somerset can be found here.
If you need to speak to someone, Samaritans can be contacted for free at any time at 116 123.
You can also text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for their text line.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
