Left in limbo on “hidden” waiting lists

PRESS RELEASE

TUESDAY 31^ST JANUARY 2023

1 in 4 people waiting for mental health treatment left in limbo on hidden waiting lists

Patients struggling with their mental health are left stuck in limbo on “hidden” NHS waiting lists. New analysis by UK charity, Future Care Capital (FCC), reveals that 1 in 4 patients (24%) are waiting more than 90 days between their first and second appointments for NHS Talking Therapy treatment (previously known as IAPT) – a service that provides therapy to adults with conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety [1].

These alarming figures also highlight the growing issue of the wait for mental health treatment. The number of people waiting for more than 90 days for their second appointment in the last year has in fact risen by 30% since pre-pandemic [2].

The latest NHS figures from October 2022 indicate that 13,599 people were waiting over 90 days for their second Talking Therapy appointment [3]. This is especially concerning as extensive waits for treatment have been found to have a significant impact on people’s lives, with experts warning that excessive waits between sessions can impact recovery from mental health conditions, and sometimes, result in “some cases spiral into a mental health crisis”. [4]

Also released today, a new report from FCC highlights not only the role of digital mental health tools in supporting those waiting for treatment, but the urgent need to improve the way in which these tools are accessed [5]

FCC spoke to over 500 people who have struggled with mental health and have used digital tools for support. 87% of respondents revealed that they are now relying on smartphone apps for their mental health, with almost a third (31%) of respondents adding that they decided to use digital tools because they did not want to wait for face-to-face support.

Crucially, the new report highlights the need to improve both the way in which people access these tools and how medical professionals recommend them, with users saying that they are more than twice as likely to have found a digital mental health tool on social media (33%) than through their GP (13%).

To help address this issue, FCC has launched two new tools. One is a new public guide to digital mental health tools, helping members of the public understand what digital support is available for their specific needs, and the other is the first-ever commissioning tool to help medical professionals and commissioners better understand what digital mental health tools are available for the patients in their care [6].

Both tools will help to provide a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of available technology, resulting not just in the accelerated prescription of effective and reliable digital mental health tools, but patients being empowered to make better choices when independently choosing the right digital mental health tools for their individual needs. Whilst these tools may not reduce hidden mental health wait lists, they can help patients to better cope with poor mental health whilst they await treatment.