Call for reform of psychological therapies in the UK
Posted on 18 January 2007
Professor David Richards, of the University's Department of Health Sciences, says that despite being both effective and highly valued by patients, no more than one per cent of people with anxiety or depression receive such treatments.
But in a seminar to the Dr Foster Ethics Committee, he argued that traditional therapy is not the answer.
Our case managers are the Community Support Officers of psychological therapy
Professor David Richards
Professor Richards said: "People with common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety tell us they want help which is convenient, acknowledges their own strengths and is culturally appropriate.
"We are now pioneering ways of helping people by recruiting new workers from the same culture, the same class and the same community, as the people they serve. These workers operate in the community, with the community and for the community."
In a pilot scheme in Doncaster, he and his team have designed a new method of helping people with anxiety and depression. Within 24 hours of seeking help they are telephoned by a new ‘case manager’ who organises a recovery programme based on education and self-help. Almost all the treatment is delivered on the telephone, making it both quick and convenient for patients. More than 300 patients a month are being helped by the service, which started in August 2006.
"In all public services, people have demanded greater visibility and higher quality. The police service and traffic management are examples where new support officers have been a resounding success. Our case managers are the Community Support Officers of psychological therapy," he said.
"The NHS now faces a choice between a system which will perpetuate existing inequalities versus a system which will embed psychological therapies in people's own communities. It is a choice between investment in a system which has failed us in the past versus investment in change."
Notes to editors:
- Improving Access to Psychological Therapies is a programme to test the expansion of psychological therapies. Two pilots, one in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and the other in Newham, east London, were announced in May 2006. The two sites offer different treatment models including community-based, voluntary sector-led, or employer-led services.
- David Richards is Professor of Mental Health at the University of York. He campaigns, teaches and researches into new ways of providing mental health care for people with common mental health problem such as anxiety and depression.
- The University of York's Department of Health Sciences is a large multidisciplinary department, offering a broad range of taught and research programmes in the health care field, including nursing. It aims to develop the role of scientific evidence in health and health care through high quality research, teaching and other forms of dissemination.