MENTAL HEALTH Changing Perspectives
Alan Frew, Managing Director of care home provider Community Life Choices, delves in to the issue of mental illness and looks at the best way to overcome the associated stigma.
Stigma exacerbates the difficulties faced by people with mental health conditions. It isn’t just a word but a toxic concoction of ignorance and fear that has a real impact on thousands of people every day, especially in accessing good social care services.
Nearly nine out of ten people with mental ill health have been affected by some form of stigma. Whilst campaigns like Time to Change, led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, have greatly improved public attitudes over recent years, there is still a long way to go.
Mental health remains one of the biggest unmet needs of our time and it’s likely that one of your friends, colleagues or family members will experience a mental health problem.
The stigmas that surround it are well documented, especially those affecting work, education and friendships, yet it’s the long-lasting, negative attitudes held by some
Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) that are holding those with chronic conditions and their care providers back.
Unfortunately CCGs deem those with long-term conditions as ‘risky’ budget holders. This is a huge misconception within health and social care when a well-structured, tailored support plan can in fact save the public purse around £90,000 a year compared to secure residential accommodation.
Personal health budgets are perfect for those with complex mental health issues to ensure they receive greater choice, flexibility and control over the care and support they receive. There is much evidence to support the fact that people, regardless of the extent of their condition(s), want to be involved in the discussions and decisions about their own care.
A lack of skills and training from those tasked with safeguarding public money and implementing
personal health budgets mean that they’re being delivered in a way that doesn’t ensure equal opportunity for all those that would benefit – something that goes against the entire ethos of the Care Act.
Gaining buy-in from staff for new ways of working and developing a workforce that’s able to deliver an integrated approach to assessment, care and support planning is vital.
Many CCQs believe that merging health and social care under the personal budget umbrella is too complicated. However a holistic approach to a person’s outcomes, which usually involve both areas makes sense.
Research has shown that community- based organisations are better placed to develop bespoke care and support plans because it requires a set of skills and competencies gained from working with people holistically.
Giving those with mental health conditions greater freedom over paying their support can result in the money being spent in more creative ways, such as gym memberships and cinemas cards that work to improve communication, social interaction and reintegration.
A fundamental culture is needed if we’re to successfully move from a service-based approach to one that’s person-centred. Stigma is isolating innocent people across the country and therefore no longer should we question whether to implement personal health budgets in mental health, but instead look at how to do so effectively and for whom.
www.communitylifechoices.co.uk - 42 -
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58