What thing would help people's mental health

In the case of my kids undiagnosed autism and adhd lead to MH struggles that weren’t treated properly/at all which then turned into serious mental illnesses combined with CPTSd from incidents due to the zero / incorrect treatment, support and diagnosis.

Not treating/ diagnosing mental illness does not make it go away , it makes it worse.

Ban alcohol advertising and ramp up taxes on alcohol. Improve substance misuse services and target the big drug gangs. A significant percentage of serious mental health problems are caused by or worsened by alcohol and street drugs.

Full sick pay for longer

So much this!

Fresh-faced people in their first job asking, in a "caring" voice", "Have you heard of mindfulness?" I am experiencing a lot of emotional distress, I have not just landed from Mars.

It's the voice that gets me. As a result of having two inadequate and neglectful parents (who were very charming to folk on the outside, including the medical profession) I have experienced a lot of depression in my life. A lot of sadness and upset. I am not going to crack if someone speaks to me at a normal volume!

What is your role? You said you ask patients what they want and don’t like the response when they suggest things but also don’t like the response when they don’t know. The phrase can’t win seems to come to mind.Personally having 3 children let down massively by the NHS causing huge harm I’d say I want professionals who actually know what they’re doing,are properly qualified, informed and experienced,who are informed re ND and don’t rely on patients to do their job for them. All the above seem to be sadly lacking.

Psychiatrist. You'd probably hate me

What a ridiculous thing to say. The right mental health does help- massively. And suggesting that everybody with mental health difficulties are the same with the same experiences, struggles, genes, bodies and illnesses is just silly.

I think right now cost of living is having a huge impact.
Sort that and a fair slice of issues would go away.

Why do you think there is a mental health crisis?

Literally none of that is going to cure or make much in road to my kids’ CPTSD, autism, adhd,ocd, EUPD, suicidal idealisation, self harm and Anorexia.

Some mental health illness requires access to specialist services, medication, hospital
such as schizophrenia, psychosis, Anorexia etc
some MH illness requires specialist therapies such as DBT for personality disorders
Psychodynamic for interpersonal / attachment / adjustment disorders
CBT for mood / anxiety disorders

some people require the basic needs to be addressed as opposed to psychotherapy ;
sleep, diet, exercise, emotion regulation skills

some need grief support

some need social support : housing / financial advise /

some need social connections / a social life / friendships

mental health is a vast ocean and it makes sense to ask the person

what are u struggling with ?

what do you need ??

for those who say I had no support, there is limited resources, but it helps to access the right something if you know what your problem / ask is

and the power of self efficacy-
addressing our own
sleep, diet, activities, exercise.
practising breathing properly when we are in overwhelm,
using emotion regulation skills
Problem solving life stressors
making changes where we can

there is sometimes a disconnect between people’s expectations of wanting to feel better but not doing the things that would facilitate feeling better,

extreme example : drink fizzy drinks / watch screens all day / eat rubbish, don’t exercise / don’t get into nature etc yet expect to be fixed …

people are frustrated with CBT -
but
it’s active, recovery focused and self-
directed or collaborative with a therapist

I’m not talking about serious mental health like schizophrenia,

but many mental health problems can be eased by taking responsibility / action

Agree with this

Thought of another thing. When Ive been sectioned which has happened several times, you see a psychiatrist once a week about meds and there is no therapy. It’s just really a holding pen. There should be much more help when in there.

Maybe look at people with good mental health and ask why.

I'm sure there are people like you describe.

But you seem to have a low view of patients in general.

I have experienced severe depression and chronic anxiety since I was a child. And I don't give a s* about Instagram.
Being told "The NHS is under tremendous pressure" when oine is suicidal is. . . .not helpful.

Mother's of children with additional needs are often in permanent fight or flight/ PTSD sufferers literally in their physiology.

More support for staff who are working in vastly unfunded services no beds and who are burnt out

Also, the NHS is totally focussed on offering EVERYBODY with mental health issues CBT. And calling it, misleadingly, "Talking Therapy."

The people who designed CBT never made the claim that this approach is suitable for everybody. And it is actually contra-indicated if the patient has experienced significant childhood trauma. (Which so many people have.)

Yet, if someone is depressed and/or anxious for any length of time, this is what is offered. And there's nothing else.

I've lost track of the number of times I have pointed out to a GP or nurse that CBT is not suitable for everybody. They really don't seem to know this. I've got used to vaguely sympathetic shrugs.

But yes, for those for whom it is suitable, I suspect 6 sessions isn't usually enough.

CBT has appealed to successive govts because it is cheap to deliver. Of course it is cheap, they only offer 6 sessions, and often the person "delivering" the therapy is someone not even trained in how to deliver CBT appropriately! It's actually a false economy, because many people who are offered the 6 sessions improve in the short term and then relapse.

Early interventions in schools. Better coping strategies more resiliance

There is not enough MH support on the NHS. Lack of staff for starters. Lack of beds too. Too much in the way of online 6 week CBT that does not work for a lot of people. It is just a sticking plaster... a way to look like something is being done.
Money being put in will mean more beds and more staff. More people will be seen, more people will get the support they need.

More mental health in patient beds for a start. Psychotherapy on the NHS for severe and long lasting conditions, where there is evidence that it helps.

But the cynic in me thinks that policy makers view this mostly from an economic standpoint - it is cheaper to leave suicidal people to die than give them an expensive bed and then a recovery programme, which ultimately, may not see them back to work etc.

We need more social housing so that people aren't having to move every 6 months. A stable home means you can put down roots and build a social network. MH support is also a postcode lottery and it should be universal.
People should be able to support themselves when they fall ill, instead of being immediately plunged into poverty, thanks Labour for the disability benefit cuts, talk about going backwards

My mental health difficulties were due to the constant battles for support for my severely disabled son and by the deliberately aggressive manner of some professionals.

More services that offer counselling and crisis teams who are actually available 24/7. More hospitals for those who are in need of being sectioned because they're a danger to themes/others.

Fewer screens
More human interaction
Outside more in nature
Real food

Often when I ask people what they want/need/expect, they really don't know. They just want "help". They are also unrealistic about what "help" will achieve.

Surely you recognise that as part of their overall mental health though? Feeling stuck, not knowing what will help you feel better while also desperately hoping something will make you feel better is very symptomatic of mental illness of all kinds.

Only in mental health is the patient expected to know what kind of treatment they need. We don’t ask someone with a broken leg how they want it fixed.

My expectation is that a suitably qualified therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist has a “tool kit” of knowledge in a range of approaches that can draw on to support treatment. Not a check list of mindfulness, breathing exercises and fresh air - I mean understanding different therapies, knowing the theory behind why it works and drawing on a range of approaches.

Too many therapists have done a relatively short, shallow qualification and just don’t have the breadth of knowledge they need.