Too few people access mental health services

A national target aims for 15 per cent of people with these illnesses to access services by 2015. But as of March this year the figure was only 4.1 per cent in Beds.

A report will be considered at Central Beds Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board on Thursday (July 18).

It contains a plan to bring Bedfordshire in line with the national target.

More money will be spent on its Step by Step service and there will be a greater focus on improving access.

Counsellors will be formally accredited so that their work can be counted.

The report gives a projected total of 15.3 per cent, over the target, by mid-October.

Additionally, the proportion of adults in contact with mental health services with a job has fallen sharply.

In 2010/11 it was 17.5 per cent with a national average of 12.9 per cent. The following year it was 5.4 per cent with an 8.9 per cent national average.

Those living independently has also fallen, from 92.8 per cent in 2010/11, above the national average, to 53.1 per cent in 2011/12, slightly below the national average.

Measure have been put in place to improve this.