Learning Disabilities & Autism Bulletin

The latest Learning Disabilities and Autism bulletin from the Evidently Better team at Mersey Care NHS FT is now available.

In this edition:

  • An Ongoing Process: The Implementation of an Intervention for People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities Over Time
  • Sleep problems and sensory features in children with low-average cognitive abilities and autism spectrum disorder
  • Bereaved families demand answers on LeDeR report delay
  • Updated guidance on dementia and learning disabilities
  • Neurodivergent adolescents experience twice the emotional burden at school compared to their neurotypical peers
  • Study now recruiting: Improving Care Education and Treatment Reviews for people who are autistic or have learning disabilities

If you are unable to access any of the included articles please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

Forensic Psychiatry Bulletin July 2025

With thanks to our colleagues at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation trust the latest Forensic Psychiatry bulletin is now available to view and download. Some articles are freely accessible, others require an Open Athens account.

Please get in touch for support with this: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Bulletin

The latest Suicide Prevention and Self Harm Bulletin produced by the Mersey Care Evidently Better team is now available.

In this issue:      

  • Three Dads’ pride at suicide prevention lessons in schools
  • Provisional patient suicide data (2012-2024)
  • Effects of sandplay group therapy on children at risk of suicidal ideation
  • Suicide prevention starts before the crisis: intervention guidelines for university students
  • Work stress and its association with suicidal ideation, health and presenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional study in the UK health and university workforce
  • Plus much more

If you are unable to access any of the included articles please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

Perinatal Mental Health July 2025

With thanks to our colleagues at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation trust the latest Perinatal Mental Health bulletin is now available to view and download. Some articles are freely accessible, others require an Open Athens account.

Please get in touch for support with this: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

Depression & Anxiety Bulletin

Depression & Anxiety The current bulletin for Depression & Anxiety, produced by Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust, is now available to view and download. 

In this edition:

  • The impact of COVID-19 on parents from Black ethnic backgrounds in the UK: what we have learned and why it still matters
  • Revisiting 15 000 hours: towards sustainable school systems for mental health, well-being and learning
  • Work stress and its association with suicidal ideation, health and presenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional study in the UK health and university workforce
  • Teen drug use today, mental health struggles tomorrow? What the evidence says
  • Plus much more

For support accessing any of the articles within the bulletin please contact: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey

Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England 2023/4

NHS Digital

The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) series provides data on the prevalence of both treated and untreated psychiatric disorder in the English adult population (aged 16 and over). This survey is the fifth in a series and was conducted by the National Centre for Social Research, in collaboration with the University of Leicester and City St George’s, University of London, for NHS England.

Highlights included:

Increased prevalence across a range of indicators of poor mental health-The proportion of 16 to 64 year olds, identified with a common mental health condition, increased from 17.6% in 2007 and 18.9% in 2014, to 22.6% in 2023/4. The proportion was higher in women than men at each point.  Lifetime non-suicidal self-harm was reported by 3.8% of 16 to 74 year olds in 2007, rising to 6.4% in 2014 and 10.3% in 2023/4 – Similarly, the proportion of adults screening positive for ADHD rose from 8.2% in 2007 and 9.7% in 2014, to 13.9% in 2023/4.

Young adults remain a key group– The proportion of young adults (aged 16 to 24), with a common mental health condition, rose from 17.5% in 2007 to 25.8% in 2023/4. Younger adults were also more likely to report lifetime non-suicidal self-harm and to screen positive for PTSD and ADHD than older age groups.

Socioeconomic inequalities in mental health persist– Adults with problem debt and those who were not in employment were more likely to have a common mental health condition, report lifetime non-suicidal self-harm and to screen positive for PTSD. Living in the most deprived fifth of areas was associated with increased prevalence of common mental health conditions, suicide attempts and PTSD.

Physical and mental health were strongly related– People with a doctor diagnosed physical health condition, that limited their activities, were more likely to have a common mental health condition, report non-suicidal self-harm and screen positive for PTSD.

Mental health treatment use increased in prevalence– The proportion of 16 to 74 year olds, with common mental health condition symptoms (CIS-R 12+), reporting receipt of treatment rose from 24.4% in 2007 and 39.4% in 2014, to 47.7% in 2023/4. Receipt of psychological therapies, among those with symptoms (CIS-R 12+), rose from 10.4% in 2007 to 17.9% in 2023/4; and receipt of medication rose from 19.6% in 2007 to 38.4% in 2023/4.

Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/4 – NHS England Digital

Image generated by AI

Resources for Health Play Services for England

Play Well Toolkit

NHS England

Image created with AI

This toolkit, produced by NHS England and Starlight, will help commissioners, service managers, health play practitioners and clinical leaders to design, plan and deliver high-quality health play services for babies, children and young people. It includes guidelines, recommended standards and a quality checklists.

NHS England » Play well – resources for health play services for England

Inpatient mental health

Improvement guide

NHS England

This improvement guide is for staff involved in planning and improving mental healthcare inpatient flow and the discharge of adult patients from mental health settings (including NHS, local authority, housing and other partners). It is part of a wider series of guidance designed to support staff delivering clinical operational improvement initiatives. The guide provides suggestions and exemplars for staff involved in patient flow improvements.

NHS England » Inpatient mental health: Improvement guide

Impact of young people’s admissions to adult mental health wards in England: national qualitative study

National policy in England recommends that young people be admitted to mental health wards that are age-appropriate. Despite this, young people continue to be admitted to adult wards. Our findings emphasise the importance of young people being admitted to age-appropriate in-patient facilities. Earlier intervention and increased provision of specialist care in the community could prevent young people’s admissions to adult wards.

Impact of young people’s admissions to adult mental health wards in England: national qualitative study | BJPsych Open | Cambridge Core

Adult ADHD assessments and diagnosis: data and service provision

King’s Fund Report

Adult ADHD assessment services in the UK face inconsistent data collection, hindering national planning. Standardised data is essential to improving waiting times, service delivery and outcomes.

Adult ADHD Assessments And Diagnosis: Data And Service Provision | The King’s Fund