Specialist services for people with mental health problems are delivered by both public and independent sector organisations. National statistics about some aspects of these services are available. A variety of other published information covers the wider issue of mental health.
Publications
This Statistical Release contains summary information on patients admitted to mental health facilities in Wales both formally and informally.
Provide estimates of mental health problems among adults living in private households in England, to monitor trends in mental health disorders and examine factors that might be associated with mental health and psychological well-being.
A survey of the attitudes towards mental illness among adults in England
A Clinical Evaluation of the Diagnosis of Autistic Disorder in the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey - a technical study to help establish methods for studing the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder including Asperger Syndrome in adults in the community
Presents prevalence rates for common mental disorders among ethnic minorities, broken down by demographic characteristics, use of services and social support structures.
Statistics relating to the number of cases of Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983 by year and by local authority.
Information on uses of the Mental Health Act (and other relevant legislation) in NHS hospitals, including psychiatric hospitals, and independent hospitals.
This bulletin introduces a set of new, experimental national statistics on NHS services for people with severe and enduring mental health problems.
Percentage of key data items categorised as valid, invalid, missing, default or other according to published rules
Provide estimates of mental health problems among adults living in private households in England, to monitor trends in mental health disorders and examine factors that might be associated with mental health and psychological well-being.
Provides estimates of prevalence of the three main categories of mental disorders, examines behaviours and characteristics associated with these disorders and looks in detail at children on the autistic spectrum.
Determines the prevalence of the three main categories of mental disorder, determines the impact and burden of children's mental health problems in terms of social impairment and adverse consequences for others.
Presents summary results from the census of patients in NHS mental health.
Provides baseline information about the prevalence of psychiatric problems among male and female, remand and sentenced prisoners and examines the use of services and the receipt of care.
Prevalence of the three main categories of mental disorder, impact of caring responsibilities and support, characteristics of cared for person and relationship.
Overview
Common mental health problems affect many people and the majority of people who seek treatment are looked after in primary care, that is, through their GP practice.
People with severe and enduring mental health problems may be referred by their GP, or other agency, to National Health Service (NHS) specialist mental health services.
The range of specialist services available includes: care provided in hospitals, through outpatient clinics and through community-based, multidisciplinary teams. Specialist mental health care can also include the compulsory detention of people with a mental disorder in hospital for assessment of treatment (under The Mental Health Act 1983). There is also a wide range of services provided by the voluntary sector.
Information about some of these services is provided in the following ways:
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Official statistics from service level data provided by NHS organisations
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Special collections designed to monitor particular aspects of services, such as uses of the Mental Health Act 1983
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Surveys designed to measure health problems, attitudes to health or health-related behaviours that focus on mental health issues or include them
Questions on attitudes to mental illness among adults in England have been asked as part of TNS UK’s face-to-face Omnibus since 1994. The aims of the survey are to monitor public attitudes towards mental illness and to track changes over time. The Survey is commissioned by the Care Services Improvement Partnership.
Technical Data
The following information is available:
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National Statistics about people being treated in hospital, or as outpatients, under mental health related specialities or diagnosed with mental health problems are provided through Hospital Episode and Hospital Outpatient Activity statistics – see the Patients and Clients topic in the related topics section. The source data for these statistics are record-level service data provided by the National Health Service (NHS) funded services and the data for admitted patient care go back to 1989. The main unit of recording is the Finished Consultant Episode (a period of admitted patient care under a consultant or allied healthcare professional within an NHS trust). The data also include details of patient age and may include details of diagnosis, treatment and the speciality of the consultant who treated them
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The annual National Statistics bulletin: Inpatients Formally Detained in Hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 provides information about uses of the Mental Health Act, broken down by patient gender and category of mental disorder. The source data are a well established annual collection of aggregate data from NHS and independent sector mental health service providers registered to take patients detained under the Mental Health Act. The bulletin gives figures for NHS and independent sector providers and provides details about uses of different sections of the Mental Health Act (for example, the number of formal admissions where the referral has come via the criminal justice system)
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From October 2008 experimental statistics from an annual return of service level data from NHS secondary mental health service providers will be available. The Mental Health Bulletin provides the most comprehensive data available on the range of services provided by the NHS both in hospital and in the community. The source data is the Mental Health Minimum dataset that has been collected by NHS providers of specialist mental health services since April 1983. The release includes analysis at national and trust level and includes some information broken down by age, gender, ethnic profile and geographic distribution. As these are experimental statistics they should be treated with caution
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A number of surveys designed to measure health problems or health related behaviours that include mental health topics, such as the prevalence of psychiatric problems in particular populations – see the Lifestyles and Behaviours topic in the related topics section. The Attitudes to Mental Illness Survey focuses monitors public attitudes to mental illness specifically and aims to track changes over time. The Survey is commissioned by the Care Services Improvement Partnerships and the most recent survey was carried out in January 2008. 1,703 people aged over 16 were interviewed
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The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey is a five yearly survey to estimate the prevalence rates of the main mental disorders of the adults population of Great Britain (aged 16-74). The next report is due for publication in January 2008
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Attitudes to Mental Illness Survey. The most recent survey was carried out in January 2008 in which 1,703 adults (16+) were interviewed. The most recent research report, which is in scope of National Statistics, was issued in May 2008. The first survey was in 1994, the previous survey was in 2007. Surveys have been carried out at irregular intervals between these years. Survey Methodology is contained in Appendix 1 to the report
Glossary
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Acute
In medicine, refers to an intense illness or affliction of abrupt onset.
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Antipsychotic
The word antipsychotic is applied to a group of drugs commonly, but not exclusively, used to treat psychosis.
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BME
Black and Minority Ethnic.
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Carer
A term used to describe someone who provides support to someone with experience of a mental illness. Forms of support include: emotional, financial and practical.
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CPA
Care Programme Approach.
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CSIP
Care Services Improvement Partnership.
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Delusion
When used in medicine this term refers to any disturbance in the function of an organ or body part.
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Department of Health
The Department of Health is responsible for driving forward change and modernisation in the NHS and social care, as well as improving standards of public health. The department develops policies, and sets national standards for health care.
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GP
General Practitioner.
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HES
Health Episodes Statistics.
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HONOS
Health of the Nation Outcomes Scale.
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ICD
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.
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KH03
Department of Health annual return covering bed availability and occupancy.
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KP90
Annual data collection which provides aggregate source data for the inpatients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 annual bulletin.
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Mental health facilities
The full range of mental health services from psychiatric hospitals to community based outpatient centres and drop-in day centres.
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MHA
Mental Health Act 1983 – covers matters relating to the treatment of mentally disordered people and provides the legislation by which people suffering from a mental disorder can be detained in hospital and have their disorder assessed or treated against their wishes.
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MHMDS
Mental Health Minimum Dataset.
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National Service Framework for Mental Health
The Department of Health's National Service Framework for Mental Health sets national standards for promoting mental health and treating mental illness.
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NHS providers
Trusts that provide specialist mental health services.
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PCO
Primary Care Organisation.
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PCT
Primary Care Trust.
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PSA
Public Service Agreement.
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Psychosis
The word psychosis is used to describe a group of conditions that affect the mind and to some extent mean that the person loses contact with reality. A person may experience unusual or distressing perceptions, for example hallucinations and delusions, which may be accompanied by a reduced ability to cope with usual day to day activities and routine. Someone who has these unusual experiences is described as having a psychotic episode.
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Service user
A person receiving the services of a health authority or voluntary or independent organisation is called a service user. In this website the term usually refers to someone who is using mental health services.
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SHA
Strategic Health Authority.
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Social exclusion
People affected by mental illness are one of the most socially excluded groups in society.
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Special services
Mental health services.
Contact Details
For statistical enquiries about this topic, please contact:
The NHS Information Centre of Health and Social Care
Email: Enquiries@ic.nhs.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 845 300 6016
1 Trevelyan Square Boar Lane Leeds LS1 6AE
