The most recent Make Every Contact count public heath bulletin looking at latest evidence around smoking cessation, alcohol, healthy weight, healthy eating and physical exercise is now available. The bulletin is produced by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT Library staff. If you cannot access any of the articles included in the bulletin please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.
Category: Mental Health
Physical Activity
CQC Survey Reveals Ongoing Challenges in Community Mental Health Services
The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) 2024 Community Mental Health Survey highlights persistent issues within NHS community mental health services in England. Key findings include:
- Access and Waiting Times: 40% of respondents did not receive support while waiting for their first appointment, and 42% reported that their mental health deteriorated during this period.
- Crisis Care: While 78% knew who to contact during a crisis, 27% did not receive the help they needed, and 47% reported that their families or carers were not offered support during such times.
- Care Planning and Involvement: Over a third (38%) did not have a care plan, and 43% had not had a review meeting to discuss their care. Additionally, 36% reported having no choice in how their care was delivered.
- Support for Broader Needs: Significant numbers of respondents did not receive help or advice for joining community activities (44%), finding work (69%), or accessing financial advice or benefits (67%).
These findings underscore the need for comprehensive improvements in community mental health services to ensure timely access, effective crisis support, and holistic care planning.
Read the full report: CQC – Community Mental Health Survey 2024
Step Into National Walking Month
May is National Walking Month, a great reminder to make time for daily walks and enjoy the many benefits of moving more. Walking is one of the simplest ways to improve physical and mental well-being — it helps clear the mind, boosts mood, and supports a healthier body.
Whether you take a stroll through your local park, walk part of your commute, or explore new places on foot, every step counts. Walking also connects us with our surroundings, giving us a chance to slow down and appreciate the world around us.
This month, why not combine your walks with a good book or podcast, or challenge yourself to add a few extra steps each day? Let’s celebrate the small, steady power of walking.
Strengthening Suicide Prevention: From Policy to Practice
The Suicide Prevention Consortium’s 2025 report, Suicide Prevention Principles: From Policy to Practice, outlines two fundamental principles for effective suicide prevention: ensuring ‘no wrong door’ to accessing support and providing person-centred care. The report emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts, inclusive practices, increased staff awareness, and robust workforce support to translate these principles into actionable strategies.
Read the full report: NSPA – Suicide Prevention Principles: From Policy to Practice
The King’s Fund: New Report Highlights Mental Health Challenges Faced by Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the UK
The Mental Health Foundation’s 2025 report sheds light on the significant mental health challenges experienced by asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. It emphasizes the need for trauma-informed policies and better support systems to address these issues.
Read the full report: The Mental Health of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the UK – 2025 Edition
The Kings Fund: Public Satisfaction with NHS and Social Care Hits Record Lows
The latest British Social Attitudes survey reveals that public satisfaction with both the NHS and social care services in the UK has reached unprecedented lows.
- NHS Satisfaction: Only 21% of respondents expressed satisfaction with the NHS, marking the lowest level since the survey began in 1983. Key concerns include long waiting times, staffing shortages, and difficulties accessing services like A&E and dentistry.
- Social Care Satisfaction: Satisfaction with social care services remains at a mere 13%, the lowest ever recorded. Major reasons for dissatisfaction include inadequate pay and working conditions for care workers, insufficient support for unpaid carers, and many individuals not receiving the care they need.
These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and increased investment in both sectors to address the growing concerns of the public.
Read the full report: The King’s Fund
NHE: Report Highlights Deepening Mental Health Crisis
A recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reveals a significant decline in mental health across England and Wales since the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, over half of the 900,000 increase in disability benefit claims among working-age adults is due to mental health issues. Additionally, ‘deaths of despair’—including those from alcohol, drugs, and suicide—have risen by 24%, resulting in approximately 3,700 additional deaths in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels. The report also highlights a 36% increase in individuals accessing NHS mental health services since 2019, with antidepressant prescriptions up by 12%.
Read the full article: National Health Executive
New Books for Our Teenage Collection!
Looking for something fresh to read? We’ve just added some fantastic new books to our Teenage Collection! Whether you need advice on mental health, body image, social media, or identity, these books have got you covered. From Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys to Social Anxiety Relief for Teens, there’s something for everyone.
Come check them out at the library!
The King’s Fund: Workforce Wellbeing
Community health staff play a crucial role, but their wellbeing often goes unnoticed. The King’s Fund highlights why better support is needed to help them continue their vital work.
Read more: The King’s Fund
The King’s Fund: Social Care Review
The King’s Fund’s latest Social Care 360 report examines the state of adult social care in England, highlighting funding shortfalls, workforce shortages, and access challenges. While spending has risen, it hasn’t kept up with demand, leaving many without vital support. The report provides a crucial overview of where the system stands and what needs urgent attention.
Read more: Social Care 360 – The King’s Fund