Category: Mental Health

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

Muslim leaders’ views on mental health disorders

An overview from one of the Trust’s Consultant Psychiatrists

Shafiq (UK) Muslim leaders’ views on mental health disorders: focus group. GlobalPsychiatryArchives

Salman Shafiq (LSCFT) shares the outcome of his research paper and key themes identified within his research. Learn about the focused group discussion among religious leaders and some members of South Asian community.

Watch the short clip above or read the article here:

Views of British South Asian Muslim leaders on mental health: a focus group study

Cochrane Review: Music-Based Interventions for Dementia Show Modest Benefits

A recent Cochrane review evaluated the effects of music-based therapeutic interventions on individuals with dementia. Analysing data from 30 studies involving 1,720 participants, the review found that, compared to usual care, music-based interventions probably lead to slight improvements in depressive symptoms and may reduce overall behavioural problems. However, evidence regarding benefits for agitation, emotional well-being, cognition, and long-term effects remains limited or uncertain.

These findings suggest that while music therapy can offer some benefits for people with dementia, further high-quality research is needed to fully understand its impact.

Read the full review: Cochrane Library – Music-Based Therapeutic Interventions for People with Dementia

New ONS Report Reveals Elevated Self-Harm and Suicide Rates Among LGB+ Adults

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released a ground breaking analysis linking 2021 Census data with NHS records, revealing that adults identifying as LGB+ in England and Wales face significantly higher rates of self-harm and suicide compared to their heterosexual counterparts.

Key Findings:

  • The age-standardised rate of intentional self-harm for LGB+ individuals was 1,508.9 per 100,000 people between March 2021 and December 2023, compared to 598.4 per 100,000 for heterosexual individuals.
  • The suicide rate among LGB+ adults stood at 50.3 per 100,000 people, more than double the rate of 23.1 per 100,000 observed in heterosexual adults.
  • Bisexual individuals exhibited the highest self-harm rates within the LGB+ group, at 1,669.5 per 100,000 people.
  • The risk of self-harm was notably higher among LGB+ females, with a rate 2.8 times greater than that of heterosexual females.
  • Young adults aged 16 to 24 identifying as LGB+ had a self-harm rate 2.8 times higher than their heterosexual peers.

These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health support and suicide prevention strategies within the LGB+ community.

Read the full report: ONS – Self-harm and suicide by sexual orientation, England and Wales

WHO Report Calls for Urgent Action on Health Inequities

The World Health Organization’s 2025 World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity highlights the persistent health disparities driven by factors like income, education, housing, and discrimination. The report emphasizes that without targeted, equity-focused policies, these gaps will continue to widen.

It urges governments and institutions to implement structural changes that address the root causes of health inequities, advocating for cross-sector collaboration and inclusive policy-making.

Read the full report: WHO – World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity

Eating Disorder Bulletin May 2025

The latest Eating Disorder Bulletin is now available to view or 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.

May 2025Download

Children and Young People’s Mental Health Newsletter May 2025

The latest Children and Young People’s Mental Health Newsletter is now available to view or 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.

CYPMH newsletter May 2025Download

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May 2025) focuses on community—a reminder that connection, support, and belonging are essential for good mental health. Being part of a strong, supportive community helps us feel safe, valued, and less alone.

The week encourages open conversations about mental health, reduces stigma, and promotes resources to support wellbeing. It’s a great time to reflect on how we can strengthen the connections around us and be there for one another.

Learn more and get involved:
mentalhealth.org.uk
mentalhealth-uk.org