Mind responds to CQC community mental health survey
A new survey out today from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), polling over 14,000 people who accessed community mental health services, has found that 4 in 10 are waiting too long for care.
Other key findings from the survey included:
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A third of people (33%) waited 3 months or more for their first treatment
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4 in 10 people (42%) said their mental health deteriorated while waiting for care
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People who waited longer were more likely to report that their mental health got worse
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More young people using CAMHS reported needing support in accessing care than last year (30% in 2024 compared with 22% in 2023)
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More than a third of young people who accessed crisis care said they didn’t get the help they needed, and similarly in more than a third of instances no support was given to their family or carers during the crisis
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More than three quarters of all survey respondents weren’t signposted to help or advice with the cost of living
Minesh Patel, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns at Mind, said: “These findings will come as no surprise to people with mental health problems or staff working in the sector, who are dealing every day with the human cost of a mental health system on its knees. More of us are seeking help, but we can’t get it when we need it, and are becoming more unwell while we wait, leading in some cases to mental health crises.
“With devastating cuts to benefits and falls in the share of NHS on mental health funding on the horizon, I fear things will get worse.
“The government talks about fixing the NHS and helping people back to work. None of that is possible without a plan for mental health waiting lists. The government has a plan to reduce waiting lists for physical illness. If it’s serious about putting mental health on an equal footing with physical health, we need the same for mental health, alongside a drastic rethink on welfare cuts.”
