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Funding priorities for MH care

95 replies

CanelliniBeans · 13/08/2024 08:30

Just reading the latest on the failures in MH care in the sad case of Valdosta Calocane.
AIBU to think we should prioritise funding for serious mental health issues over the funding of treatment for lesser MH conditions like anxiety? There's not enough money to go round and we need to ensure people who are a risk get treatment.

OP posts:
Yampy · 13/08/2024 11:10

x2boys · 13/08/2024 08:51

Anxiety is very different to something like schizophrenia ,most people sufer with anxiety to varying degrees they do not go on to develop longterm,enduring mental illness,s such as schizophrenia .

More ignorant bollocks.

WeetabixWisp · 13/08/2024 11:07

@Trail374 the main point is many people are not honest about their thoughts and feelings. I was dishonest because I had children and was worried they would be removed.

I have met people who have been under MH services almost all their adult lives. The worst was a man who had tortured someone and had spent quite a bit of time in a high security mental hospital as a young adult, he positively enjoyed terrorising the other patients. He absolutely hated women, I mean hated, if you showed any weakness at all he would try and get in your head. We did report him to staff and he was spoken to multiple times, he seemed to enjoy the drama and said just enough to upset but was clever.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/08/2024 10:53

If we ignore ‘lesser’ illnesses like anxiety the already substantial shortage of workers will increase dramatically.

1 in 3 have a mental health issue. The workforce could shrink by a third if it’s ignored.

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:52

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:42

What treatment would help? 'There shoved on medication and left'. That is pretty much what happens in hospital whilst exposing the person to the iatrogenic harm of the inpatient environment. 'Revolving door' is as much of an issue with SMI patients. I agree we need more community provision and psychiatric care generally seems to lack compassion. But there are no magic bullets - access to therapy is always going to be limited because it is so expensive vs medication.

There are lots of treatments those out of inpatient could access except very few can.

Yampy · 13/08/2024 10:52

CanelliniBeans · 13/08/2024 08:30

Just reading the latest on the failures in MH care in the sad case of Valdosta Calocane.
AIBU to think we should prioritise funding for serious mental health issues over the funding of treatment for lesser MH conditions like anxiety? There's not enough money to go round and we need to ensure people who are a risk get treatment.

What a load of ignorant bollocks! NHS mental health care needs a complete overhaul, anxiety can be debilitating but it can also be a symptom of something far more serious.

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:42

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:26

Home treatment team is beyond shite. A person who has several diagnosis, who self harms and has tried to kill them several times should be getting treatment. They aren’t. They’re shoved on medication and left. Such people are not getting treatment in the community before they’re left to spiral and ping pong in and out of hospital. They then become the higher need cases.

What treatment would help? 'There shoved on medication and left'. That is pretty much what happens in hospital whilst exposing the person to the iatrogenic harm of the inpatient environment. 'Revolving door' is as much of an issue with SMI patients. I agree we need more community provision and psychiatric care generally seems to lack compassion. But there are no magic bullets - access to therapy is always going to be limited because it is so expensive vs medication.

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:38

Kebarbra · 13/08/2024 10:35

The alternative is a society where people are made to undertake treatment because they might be dangerous-an idea which has much wider ramifications.

I think that's fine, presumably if rhe extent of their MH condition is that they might murder strangers in cold blood, then it's surely not unreasonable to presume they can't make informed decisions about their health and whether to take medication or not therefore why not have it legally enforced?

And those that might just kill themselves get shoved on medication because they don’t get access to treatment.

Kebarbra · 13/08/2024 10:35

The alternative is a society where people are made to undertake treatment because they might be dangerous-an idea which has much wider ramifications.

I think that's fine, presumably if rhe extent of their MH condition is that they might murder strangers in cold blood, then it's surely not unreasonable to presume they can't make informed decisions about their health and whether to take medication or not therefore why not have it legally enforced?

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:35

WeetabixWisp · 13/08/2024 10:33

When there is limited funding in public services in any sector an immediate risk to life will always be prioritised.

Many people do not tell the complete truth when it comes to their MH issues, I was one of these. I hid stuff and was diagnosed with anxiety. Due to an acute episode witnessed by MH services and then me admitting to stuff in my past I was diagnosed with bi polar.

I have met many people with all kinds of conditions having been under MH services for years. I found many people lied about taking their meds and I mean loads of them. I also remember some manipulating staff.

Then there is always the is it their personality or their MH issues?

I was an in patient and was also in a category 4 programme for 2 years as an outpatient. MH professionals will understand just how unwell I was. Some enduring MH issues even with the best treatment, those people can never reach a level where they are safe.

Edited

And many many people can be if they get the right treatment when they need it.

WeetabixWisp · 13/08/2024 10:33

When there is limited funding in public services in any sector an immediate risk to life will always be prioritised.

Many people do not tell the complete truth when it comes to their MH issues, I was one of these. I hid stuff and was diagnosed with anxiety. Due to an acute episode witnessed by MH services and then me admitting to stuff in my past I was diagnosed with bi polar.

I have met many people with all kinds of conditions having been under MH services for years. I found many people lied about taking their meds and I mean loads of them. I also remember some manipulating staff.

Then there is always the is it their personality or their MH issues?

I was an in patient and was also in a category 4 programme for 2 years as an outpatient. MH professionals will understand just how unwell I was. Some enduring MH issues even with the best treatment, those people can never reach a level where they are safe.

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:31

Once upon a time people without a diagnosis weee struggling people trying to get help. They’re now ignored and left so they spiral and so it goes on.

The system is broken but reducing what little there is at the beginning isn’t the answer.

spiegelis · 13/08/2024 10:29

CanelliniBeans · 13/08/2024 08:30

Just reading the latest on the failures in MH care in the sad case of Valdosta Calocane.
AIBU to think we should prioritise funding for serious mental health issues over the funding of treatment for lesser MH conditions like anxiety? There's not enough money to go round and we need to ensure people who are a risk get treatment.

What help do you think people with anxiety get (apart from Sertraline). And do you understand how severe and lif limiting anxiety can be? What an awfully nasty and ill informed post.

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:26

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:17

What do you think inpatient treatment involves? Hospitals aren't therapeutic places - they are simply there to provide containment and stabilisation via MEDICATION. That's what all the psychotic and manic people are getting. The evidence for suicidialty isn't great especially when the patient experiences it chronically.

You need to prioritise the person who is a risk to self and others, and has grossly impaired functioning. Teams should also be offering the least restrictive option - home treatment avoids the problems of an inpatient setting, although I agree that it has become a glorified medication delivery service.

Home treatment team is beyond shite. A person who has several diagnosis, who self harms and has tried to kill them several times should be getting treatment. They aren’t. They’re shoved on medication and left. Such people are not getting treatment in the community before they’re left to spiral and ping pong in and out of hospital. They then become the higher need cases.

Sirzy · 13/08/2024 10:23

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:20

Really obtuse comment. Yes funding should be increased across the board. But it shouldn't be controversial to prioritise the more severe, debilitating and higher risk condition.

what should actually be happening is treatment should be available a long time before reaching the point of being severe and debilitating.

Many people are crying out for support but there is nothing there, you shouldn’t have to reach crisis point where you are a risk to yourself or others before you can be helped. If it gets to that point something has gone wrong.

prevention is better than cure!

Projectme · 13/08/2024 10:23

JennieTheZebra · 13/08/2024 10:09

I’m a MH nurse. Tbh, the biggest issue in cases like this one, and one we find almost impossible to address, is the tension between public safety and the right for someone who is unwell to make choices about their life. Ethically and legally, you can’t keep someone in hospital once they are stable-even if you know they are very likely to deteriorate and may pose a risk to others. You can only force someone to engage if there’s proven risk. The alternative is a society where people are made to undertake treatment because they might be dangerous-an idea which has much wider ramifications.

Your job must be so very hard at times for the reason you state - public safety vs a persons right to accept and take treatment for their mental health illness. What trumps the other? If people are going to be told that they are going to be forced to take medication for a mental health illness how the hell is that going to be monitored/managed unless they are kept under hospital/prison style arrangements?!

Whilst these kinds of cases appear to be rare, they still happen and people die and families have to battle to be heard. It's unbelievably tragic. I feel so so sad for these families and their struggles; they'll no doubt be needing mental health services as a result of the tragedy...I wonder how well that's gone for them!

I don't know what the answer is and finding the answer to please everyone probably doesn't even exist no matter how much money is ploughed into the system.

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:22

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:20

Really obtuse comment. Yes funding should be increased across the board. But it shouldn't be controversial to prioritise the more severe, debilitating and higher risk condition.

Well it should be controversial if struggling people are left to become more severe, debilitated and higher risk as is happening.

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:20

Serencwtch · 13/08/2024 09:43

Why cut the services for anxiety?
Why not cut say cancer services because cancer doesn't cause someone to be dangerous. They can just suffer & die quietly without causing a problem to anyone else.

Alternatively we could properly fund services for all, regardless of whether it's mental or physical.

Really obtuse comment. Yes funding should be increased across the board. But it shouldn't be controversial to prioritise the more severe, debilitating and higher risk condition.

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:17

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:03

Access to services being based on need is what IS the issue!

Now if you try to take to your own life you are sent off home with medication and the home treatment team popping in for a few days. It’s a sticking plaster and you are left and don’t get any actual treatment UNTIL you get even worse. It’s a false economy.

Covid and the withdrawal of services during lockdown has shown how detrimental this is. The backlog after has been horrendous.

What do you think inpatient treatment involves? Hospitals aren't therapeutic places - they are simply there to provide containment and stabilisation via MEDICATION. That's what all the psychotic and manic people are getting. The evidence for suicidialty isn't great especially when the patient experiences it chronically.

You need to prioritise the person who is a risk to self and others, and has grossly impaired functioning. Teams should also be offering the least restrictive option - home treatment avoids the problems of an inpatient setting, although I agree that it has become a glorified medication delivery service.

mitogoshi · 13/08/2024 10:10

The balance is that providing support before crisis can keep people being productive members of society and crucially can be cheaper too as a short course of therapy could be all they need at that point, letting people deteriorate so they are unable to work, potentially homeless and spiralling down to the point of serious interventions helps nobody

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:10

Soontobe60 · 13/08/2024 10:08

Sorry if I was unclear - the whole point of my post was to say just that. We use the term anxiety as if it’s a minor thing, when in reality what may just appear as such can end up as a serious mental health condition.

But you’re saying don’t treat anxiety. Treating and investigating anxiety can uncover underlying issues which is supported in time can cut costs to the NHS further down the line.

JennieTheZebra · 13/08/2024 10:09

I’m a MH nurse. Tbh, the biggest issue in cases like this one, and one we find almost impossible to address, is the tension between public safety and the right for someone who is unwell to make choices about their life. Ethically and legally, you can’t keep someone in hospital once they are stable-even if you know they are very likely to deteriorate and may pose a risk to others. You can only force someone to engage if there’s proven risk. The alternative is a society where people are made to undertake treatment because they might be dangerous-an idea which has much wider ramifications.

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 10:08

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:06

How many people with anxiety alone end up detained under MHA let alone lifetime hospital order?

The Calocane case has resulted in 3 deaths, 3 serious injuries and the lives of four families destroyed.

Have you not seen the news? Hoards of young people are NEET and out of work due to anxiety and other MH issues.

A lot of complex MH issues are dismissed as a bit of anxiety as struggling people aren’t seeing any professionals.

Soontobe60 · 13/08/2024 10:08

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 09:50

And we shouldn’t be dismissing all mental health struggles as a bit of anxiety.

Sorry if I was unclear - the whole point of my post was to say just that. We use the term anxiety as if it’s a minor thing, when in reality what may just appear as such can end up as a serious mental health condition.

BeatenbySassafras · 13/08/2024 10:06

Trail374 · 13/08/2024 09:27

It stops people from working and if left unchecked or supported can lead to serious MH and a risk to life. I know because that is what has happened to two of my children. Schizophrenia isn’t the only serious MH condition out there. 🤔

How many people with anxiety alone end up detained under MHA let alone lifetime hospital order?

The Calocane case has resulted in 3 deaths, 3 serious injuries and the lives of four families destroyed.

Catza · 13/08/2024 10:03

Tiredallthetimeneedsleep · 13/08/2024 09:52

Maybe, but I know a few therapists who struggle to find work or apply for certain jobs in MH, despite having skills, qualifications and experience.

Are your friends psychologists? There is very little scope for psychology in acute services. Most patients are too unwell to benefit. The unfilled vacancies are mostly for nursing and occupational therapy posts.