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Good to see @BBCNewsNI highlighting chronic waiting times for mental health support. https://bbc.in/2KtWLlQ This is a systemic problem across primary & secondary care. Solutions do exist - they need political will, funding & above all, a paradigm shift. #FixSystemsNotPeople 1/
It shouldn’t take @NiallMccracken to use FOI legislation to get info on mental health waiting times.. #123GP activists regularly have to use this to get info that should be in the public domain https://bit.ly/3suT5S1 Start with transparency @HSCBoard to enable accountability 2/
Health chiefs say Covid pressures have hit waiting times, BUT waiting times & lack of funding for assessments, talking therapies, psychological services & suicide prevention work have been highlighted by campaigners for years. They have been ignored! https://bit.ly/3bQaZZi 3/
People in a crisis should not feel the only option left to them is an ED Dept. As highlighted so bravely by Aidan @MyStoryNI they rarely provide the help that’s needed. People need to access help before they reach a crisis point. Talking Therapy is one option that can help. 4/
Talking Therapy works & costs less than medication. GPs & patients alike want this option. We’ve a huge issue with over-prescription of medication - in 2017/18 3,110,000 anti-depressants were issued. For a population of 1.8m. https://bit.ly/2LHtSmI 5/
Reality is that access to Talking Therapy is a post-code lottery. Only 2/3rds of GP practices offer in-house counselling. GPs can also refer people to Talking Therapy via Mental Health Hubs but waiting times can be months depending on where you live. https://bit.ly/2NbMawJ 6/
We need to ensure the Covid crisis doesn’t become a mental health crisis. Fixing access to talking therapies is vital as more people seek mental health support from their GP as a result of Covid. @healthdpt is consulting on a 10 yr mental health strategy. Here’s what’s needed 7/
1. All GP practices adequately funded to provide timely access to talking therapy 2. Nobody waits longer than 28 days for a routine appt, 2 days for an urgent one 3. People given options on how to access therapy- in their GP practice or through a local provider in their area. 8/
