During the summer of 2017, Healthwatch Sheffield carried out a review of public experiences of mental health support in the community setting.
Healthwatch heard from 450 people during the course of their review using a variety of methods. They also spoke to staff and volunteers involved in the commissioning and provision of services.
Common themes that emerged included:
- People who currently access services are generally positive about their experience, however, an overarching theme was the difficulties people experienced in accessing adequate support. In some cases this led to distress and/or acute crisis.
- After being discharged, people described difficulties getting the help they feel is needed.
- There is a desire for more and earlier public involvement in designing services and better communication when changes are taking place.
The report makes five recommendations for local commissioners and providers of mental
health services , Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust,
NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group and Sheffield City Council.
You can read the full report on the Healthwatch Sheffield website here.
