Mind launches Opening Doors report at Parliament
Mind, the mental health charity, has officially launched its Opening Doors report at Parliament alongside Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care.
The event brought together politicians, key members of the health sector, and people who have personally experienced problems trying to access mental health care under the current system.
Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care, said:
“Struggling with your mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. But that view is not the reality for far too many people.
"That's why we need a new approach to mental health, one that focuses on the whole person, in tune with who they are and recognising what they might have been through – principles that are reflected in Mind's report.
“Later this year, our Mental Health Strategy will set out more detail on how we plan to improve access to high-quality mental health support and ensure people can get the right support at the right time.”
The charity’s Opening Doors report sets out the changes needed to improve access to mental health support in England, so that people can talk to a mental health professional when they reach out for help through an ‘open access’ system.
The same-day open access model works like this:
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Reaching out for help is met with an immediate, meaningful response, not a waiting list or a referral into an opaque pathway.
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The first interaction a person has in this system is a conversation with a professional where they take the time to properly understand the person’s needs and circumstances.
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This conversation is the foundation for identifying the right support. That might be clinical care, peer support, help with housing or employment, or a combination of these.
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Mind is calling on the UK government to overhaul the mental health system in their upcoming strategy – which is expected by the end of the year -by committing to the same-day Open Access model in England.
The event was sponsored by Liz Twist MP, who is a passionate advocate for good mental health care. She said:
“When people reach out for mental health support they’re usually exhausted. Under the current set up, when you ask for help the administrative maze begins, with complicated referral routes, and months and sometimes years of waiting. Often, support only materialises when someone reaches a point of mental health crisis.
“Open Access shifts the focus entirely. Instead of proving that a problem is severe enough to qualify for a service, people are asked what they need. We already have evidence that this approach works.
“No-one should have to prove they are ill enough to deserve help before they open the door.”
Tom Pollard, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns, added:
“Tightly gatekept and rationed services are not managing demand; they are exacerbating it. Many people find themselves stuck on long waiting lists or bounced between different services, while their mental health problems become worse and the impacts on their lives become more entrenched.
“It is clear the current system is unable to provide the quality of care needed and requires fundamental reform. People should be able to talk to a mental health professional on the day they need it. Equally, professionals should have the time to make someone feel heard and understood, and to identify the immediate and longer-term support they need.”
