The Government-commissioned independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism recognises a substantial rise in mental distress and common mental health conditions, particularly among children and young people.
It highlights the social and environmental factors that contribute to poor mental health, and that âmental health and wellbeing are shaped not only by exposure to adversity and stress but by opportunities for connection with other people, increased participation and a sense of purpose.ââŻ
It recommends âmoving from a system that too often requires people to wait for diagnosis before receiving help to one that recognises need earlier and responds sooner, while protecting specialist capacity for those who need it most.â
The role of social prescribing
The review highlights the role of social prescribing as âone existing route for connecting people with volunteering, physical activity, arts, nature and community supportâ, which âillustrates how participation beyond employment can become a practical aim of services rather than an aspiration.â
Specific recommendations in the report include:
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Moving from a âdiagnosis-dependentâ to a âneeds-led plus diagnosisâ system, prioritising the most appropriate pathways. The report recommends that âprimary care should coordinate access to community, voluntary and social prescribing services rather than defaulting to specialist referral.â
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Easy to access support as close to home as possible. Alongside ensuring national coverage for Early Support Hubs, Family Hubs and Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges, it highlights the need to âstrengthen social prescribing and community connectionâ.
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Long-term investment in youth, community and voluntary organisations to help tackle the drivers of mental distress and ill health. The report recognises the role of the voluntary sector in preventing mental health problems from developing and as part of neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams.
Commenting on the report, Charlotte Osborn-Forde, NASPâs Chief Executive, said:
âWe welcome the reviewâs focus on the wider circumstances that affect peopleâs mental health, and the need to respond in a way that genuinely addresses those needs.
âThere are already 3,300 Social Prescribing Link Workers working as part of GP teams, who have time to listen to people and connect them to the best available support â from debt advice to housing support to talking therapy to community groups where they can find a sense of purpose and belonging.
âThis is an approach that doesnât require a diagnosis and which is already working well. The evidence base has grown rapidly and is now strong, with recent large-scale national evaluations demonstrating significant improvements in wellbeing and patient experience.
âRecent research from the Patients Association also shows just how much patients value social prescribing, and the positive impact this has on wellbeing, self-confidence and social connection.
âThe forthcoming Mental Health Strategy should build on this success, and ensure much stronger links between specialist NHS services and the full range of support available in communities.â
