NHS Therapy services will not be able to manage the increasing demand driven by the cost of a living crisis as there are already thousands of therapists in short supply, The Independent And it has been said.
NHS counseling services in England are not meeting treatment access targets due to a shortage of 2,000 workers, according to sources.
The findings come in the form of a survey conducted by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and YouGov, in partnership with The Independentit was found that one out of every two adults felt cost of living The crisis was affecting Psychological health.
According to the survey of more than 2,000 adults, ages 25 to 34 are more likely to say a cost-of-living crisis is affecting their mental health.
Adam Jones, the UKCP’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “I think our concern is the fact that there is already a record level of demand for mental health services. We also know there are record rates for prescriptions for antidepressants. We are concerned that existing capacity is already falling short. .
“So as demand continues to grow, we are concerned that services will be extended, waiting time will go up, and the average number of treatment sessions received will decrease.”
He warned that although the NHS focused on training new therapists, there was already a workforce of psychotherapists and counsellors who did not work in the NHS.
“We would like to see more targeted recruitment of psychotherapists and counsellors who are already trained and so most will only need short adaptive training to be able to work in an NHS context.”
Jones warned there was a risk of developing a “two-tiered” mental health system with members of higher-income families able to pay privately.
He said, “In the current context, the idea of paying for treatment privately, is completely out of reach for many, many people, and that creates a two-tiered system. There are also other lifestyle factors that people from higher income backgrounds benefit from in relation to that mental health.”
In terms of children’s needs, Mr Jones said therapists have reported concerns that “there does not appear to be a plan that can meet the severity of the need, which is present now and is likely to be exacerbated in children in the coming months”.
The latest data for the NHS Talking Therapy Services (IAPT), which is provided to people with low to moderate depression, showed that from 2021-2022, 1.8 million people were referred for treatment but only 1.2 million initiated it.
The NHS plans published in 2019 aim to have 2,940 new IAPTs by 2023/23, however, The Independent Realizes that fewer than 2,000 therapists are left with what they need, as of this year.
Internal concerns have been raised within the NHS that IAPT services are not meeting targets by 35 per cent, which equates to 40,000 people losing care per month, one source explained.
The UKCP survey found that 29 per cent of people said they would need to cut down on nutritious foods, 33 per cent said they would spend less on their physical health and 28 per cent said they would not be able to support their mental health. Because of the high cost of living.
UKCP Chief Executive Professor Sarah Niebblock warned: “The cost of living is not isolated from being able to afford heat or to eat well, it interacts directly with our anxiety and that of our children. As a country already feeling the impact of the Covid pandemic on mental health, these The next wave of fear and reduced financial support is exacerbating the mental health crisis.
“The UKCP is raising awareness of the importance treatment can play in supporting the nation’s mental health, and it is more important now than ever, as we see the mental health crisis reach crisis point.”
According to the survey, people in higher-income households report that they are better able to support their physical and mental health.
When asked to mention this, 22 percent of people actually say they take medication for their mental health more than once a week.
Dr Syed Azmatullah, of the UKCP, said: “As a psychotherapist, I am concerned that nearly half of the nation is feeling the pressures of the cost of living crisis, not only on their wallets but also on their mental health.
These numbers begin to show the extent and long-term impact of the cost of living crisis on the nation. Even if the crisis ends tomorrow, the far-reaching impact will be far-reaching. The crisis is affecting people of all backgrounds and all ages – although people aged 25-34 experience more stress on their mental health than any other age group – with two out of three people feeling their mental health is being affected by the cost of living crisis .”
An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS remains committed to increasing support through its world-leading talk therapy services, and in August more than 145,000 people were referred for help, up 5 per cent on the same period last year after a campaign urging people to self-refer if they need help.” to support.
In line with the long-term plan, the NHS is also increasing the number of trainee places for newcomers to the workforce, so if you’re interested in pursuing a rewarding and interesting career helping patients from all walks of life, get in touch and find out more about joining this leading speech therapy service. globally.”
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