This report presents the findings of research either carried out or commissioned by Mind from September 2020 to April 2021 about the experiences of young people in England affected by mental health problems at secondary school. Our inquiry has found that secondary schools struggle, with minimal resources and over-stretched staff, to support young people with behaviour resulting from their mental
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report presents the findings of research either carried out or commissioned by Mind from September 2020 to April 2021 about the experiences of young people in England affected by mental health problems at secondary school. Our inquiry has found that secondary schools struggle, with minimal resources and over-stretched staff, to support young people with behaviour resulting from their mental health. Traumatised young people are frequently experiencing a punitive response from schools, such as being placed in isolation or excluded. For some, this damaging treatment has a devastating impact on their future lives. Every young person deserves to be listened to, have their needs understood, and be supported to address the underlying causes of their behaviour. The report makes a series of recommendations, including: create an attendance system which does not disadvantage or stigmatise young people experiencing mental health problems; Improve access to NHS mental health services; and radically rethink the approach to discipline in secondary schools.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
young people, mental health services, access to services, secondary schools;
This research explores the experiences of people with mental health problems during the pandemic, based on data from two surveys – one with adults (aged 25+) and one with young people (aged 13-24) living in England and Wales. Eighty-five per cent of adults and ninety-one per cent of young people answering our survey have experienced mental distress or accessed mental health services. Most of those without lived experience care for someone with a mental health problem. The report finds that: people who struggled before now struggle more – they report an increase in the severity of challenges they are facing now and concerns about the future, and urgently need tailored support; nearly half of those who took part in our survey thought their mental health would improve once restrictions eased – however, people are most worried about the transition to seeing and being near others; coronavirus has heightened inequality – people receiving benefits have been hit particularly hard and are experiencing increasingly severe and complex problems; young people who struggle with their mental health were more likely to be using negative coping strategies, like self-harm, than adults; people urgently need more support – there is an urgent need for investment in high quality trauma-informed support and much more work needs to be done to ensure support is available for young people, racialised communities, and those in poverty.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This research explores the experiences of people with mental health problems during the pandemic, based on data from two surveys – one with adults (aged 25+) and one with young people (aged 13-24) living in England and Wales. Eighty-five per cent of adults and ninety-one per cent of young people answering our survey have experienced mental distress or accessed mental health services. Most of those without lived experience care for someone with a mental health problem. The report finds that: people who struggled before now struggle more – they report an increase in the severity of challenges they are facing now and concerns about the future, and urgently need tailored support; nearly half of those who took part in our survey thought their mental health would improve once restrictions eased – however, people are most worried about the transition to seeing and being near others; coronavirus has heightened inequality – people receiving benefits have been hit particularly hard and are experiencing increasingly severe and complex problems; young people who struggle with their mental health were more likely to be using negative coping strategies, like self-harm, than adults; people urgently need more support – there is an urgent need for investment in high quality trauma-informed support and much more work needs to be done to ensure support is available for young people, racialised communities, and those in poverty.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Covid-19, mental health problems, mental health services, access to services, surveys, young people, adults, health inequalities;
Sets out findings of a survey to understand the experiences of people with pre-existing mental health problems during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the challenges that they are facing, the coping strategies that they are using, and the support they would like to receive. The report highlights how pre-existing inequalities have been worsened by the pandemic with some groups being more likely to report that their mental health has declined, including women, people with disabilities, those living in social housing, people with eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, or personality disorders, and frontline workers. Whilst the research did not find a significant difference in the overall rate of decline in mental health for people from BAME communities in comparison to White people, they did report that their mental health got worse. Key learnings set out in this report include: more than half of adults and over two thirds of young people said that their mental health has gotten worse during the period of lockdown restrictions, from early April to mid-May; restrictions on seeing people, being able to go outside and worries about the health of family and friends are the key factors driving poor mental health; feelings of loneliness have made nearly two thirds of people’s mental health worse during the past month; many people do not feel entitled to seek help, and have difficulty accessing it when they do; a quarter of adults and young people who tried to access support were unable to do so - not feeling comfortable using phone/video call technology has been one of the main barriers to accessing support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Sets out findings of a survey to understand the experiences of people with pre-existing mental health problems during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the challenges that they are facing, the coping strategies that they are using, and the support they would like to receive. The report highlights how pre-existing inequalities have been worsened by the pandemic with some groups being more likely to report that their mental health has declined, including women, people with disabilities, those living in social housing, people with eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, or personality disorders, and frontline workers. Whilst the research did not find a significant difference in the overall rate of decline in mental health for people from BAME communities in comparison to White people, they did report that their mental health got worse. Key learnings set out in this report include: more than half of adults and over two thirds of young people said that their mental health has gotten worse during the period of lockdown restrictions, from early April to mid-May; restrictions on seeing people, being able to go outside and worries about the health of family and friends are the key factors driving poor mental health; feelings of loneliness have made nearly two thirds of people’s mental health worse during the past month; many people do not feel entitled to seek help, and have difficulty accessing it when they do; a quarter of adults and young people who tried to access support were unable to do so - not feeling comfortable using phone/video call technology has been one of the main barriers to accessing support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, access to services, mental health, black and minority ethnic people, ethnicity, Covid-19, self-harm, substance misuse, alcohol misuse;
This policy report is based on the findings of an evaluation of the Women Side by Side programme, an internal mid-point analysis of monitoring data submitted by all projects, and discussions with key stakeholders involved throughout the programme. Women Side by Side, delivered in partnership by Mind and Agenda, aimed to increase the availability of high-quality mental health peer support
(Edited publisher abstract)
This policy report is based on the findings of an evaluation of the Women Side by Side programme, an internal mid-point analysis of monitoring data submitted by all projects, and discussions with key stakeholders involved throughout the programme. Women Side by Side, delivered in partnership by Mind and Agenda, aimed to increase the availability of high-quality mental health peer support for women experiencing multiple disadvantage who have, or are at risk of developing, mental health problems. The programme sought to combine the expertise of the women’s sector in delivering gender-specific and trauma-informed support for women, and Mind’s experience of community-based mental health peer support. The findings outlined in this report show that women report improvements in their social networks, increased social connection, feeling less lonely and isolated, feeling more able to talk about their mental health, and increased self-esteem, confidence and skills building. Key lessons and insights include: women’s mental health peer support, delivered through specialist women’s provision, has clear value; the specialist women’s sector must be cultivated, supported and valued; taking a trauma-informed, gender-responsive and women-only approach is vital; the development of women’s leadership plays a clear role in the delivery of peer support; smaller, specialist and grassroots voluntary sector organisations have a key role to play in delivering peer support to women; knowledge sharing and partnership between voluntary sector women’s services and mental health specialists brings benefits; short project timescales and delivery periods are counter to a trauma-informed approach in working with women facing multiple disadvantage. The report includes a number of recommendations to support wider rollout of women’s peer support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This resource brings together information and guidance to help mental health services and professionals support bisexual people. The evidence shows that that people who identify as bisexual are at far more risk of developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder. However, bisexual people are also more likely to have negative experience of mental health services, including counselling and other therapies, which will make them less likely to be open about their mental health. The document provides a definition of what bisexuality is, debunking common myths and examining anti-bisexual discrimination such as bisexual erasure vs biphobia; looks at the evidence and data around bisexuality and mental health, highlighting the importance of a supportive culture, at work and in services; considers the intersectional identities of bisexual people, in relation to gender, race and ethnicity, risk of domestic violence, disability, socioeconomic background, age, geography, religion and culture, and wellbeing. The resource also outlines the principles that should underpin mental health services and the key do’s and don’ts for inclusive services. Case studies are included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This resource brings together information and guidance to help mental health services and professionals support bisexual people. The evidence shows that that people who identify as bisexual are at far more risk of developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder. However, bisexual people are also more likely to have negative experience of mental health services, including counselling and other therapies, which will make them less likely to be open about their mental health. The document provides a definition of what bisexuality is, debunking common myths and examining anti-bisexual discrimination such as bisexual erasure vs biphobia; looks at the evidence and data around bisexuality and mental health, highlighting the importance of a supportive culture, at work and in services; considers the intersectional identities of bisexual people, in relation to gender, race and ethnicity, risk of domestic violence, disability, socioeconomic background, age, geography, religion and culture, and wellbeing. The resource also outlines the principles that should underpin mental health services and the key do’s and don’ts for inclusive services. Case studies are included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
mental health services, mental health, bisexual people, LGBT people, sexual orientation discrimination;
A toolkit to help people to plan and run mental health peer support in the community. The toolkit will be especially useful for those wanting to set up new projects or those involved in commissioning peer support. It outlines the three main approaches to community-based peer support and lists a core set of values underpinning peer support, and make it different from other forms of mental health support. It also looks at how peer support might be organised and provides guidance on how to better understand and communicate the impact of groups. Sections of the toolkit include reflection questions and activities which were developed alongside more than 10 groups and projects. Links to useful resources are included. The toolkit is based upon research undertaken by the Side by Side evaluation partners, which included St George’s, University of London, the McPin Foundation, and the London School of Economics.
(Edited publisher abstract)
A toolkit to help people to plan and run mental health peer support in the community. The toolkit will be especially useful for those wanting to set up new projects or those involved in commissioning peer support. It outlines the three main approaches to community-based peer support and lists a core set of values underpinning peer support, and make it different from other forms of mental health support. It also looks at how peer support might be organised and provides guidance on how to better understand and communicate the impact of groups. Sections of the toolkit include reflection questions and activities which were developed alongside more than 10 groups and projects. Links to useful resources are included. The toolkit is based upon research undertaken by the Side by Side evaluation partners, which included St George’s, University of London, the McPin Foundation, and the London School of Economics.
(Edited publisher abstract)
An evaluation of the Get Set to Go programme, launched in July 2015 to help people with mental health problems benefit from being physically active. Participants took part in specially designed physical activity projects delivered across England and received group and one-to-one support from peers with an understanding of how mental health can be a barrier to physical activity. A website was also developed to support users to share their stories about the impact getting active has had for them. In total, the programme has supported 3,585 people with mental health problems get more active. The evaluation of the programme, which was carried out by researchers from Loughborough University and the University of Northampton collected information from over 1,000 participants to track their progress. The findings show that physical activity has an important role to play in building resilience, enabling and supporting mental health recovery and tackling stigma and discrimination. The report also provides recommendations for organisations wanting to support people with mental health problems to become more active.
(Edited publisher abstract)
An evaluation of the Get Set to Go programme, launched in July 2015 to help people with mental health problems benefit from being physically active. Participants took part in specially designed physical activity projects delivered across England and received group and one-to-one support from peers with an understanding of how mental health can be a barrier to physical activity. A website was also developed to support users to share their stories about the impact getting active has had for them. In total, the programme has supported 3,585 people with mental health problems get more active. The evaluation of the programme, which was carried out by researchers from Loughborough University and the University of Northampton collected information from over 1,000 participants to track their progress. The findings show that physical activity has an important role to play in building resilience, enabling and supporting mental health recovery and tackling stigma and discrimination. The report also provides recommendations for organisations wanting to support people with mental health problems to become more active.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This practical guide provides advice for mental health service providers and commissioners on meeting the mental health needs of vulnerable migrant, asylum seeker and refugee communities. It has been developed in collaboration with local Mind services and will help those commissioning of mental health services to understand the unique needs presented by vulnerable migrants with mental health...
(Edited publisher abstract)
This practical guide provides advice for mental health service providers and commissioners on meeting the mental health needs of vulnerable migrant, asylum seeker and refugee communities. It has been developed in collaboration with local Mind services and will help those commissioning of mental health services to understand the unique needs presented by vulnerable migrants with mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and phobias. Area covered by the guide include: principles of good commissioning for migrant and BAMER communities; an overview of Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and local commissioning, influencing mental health commissioning, including involving people at grass roots and at strategic levels; service design and development; involving service users and communities; building a business case for services to meet migrant needs; and building links with GPs, primary care and mental health support groups. It also includes cases studies from local Minds in Harrow; Bromley and Lewisham; Wandsworth and Westminster; and City, Hackney and Waltham Forest.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
mental health services, commissioning, asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, clinical commissioning groups, user participation, case studies, cultural identity, black and minority ethnic people, needs assessment;
This report sets out the early findings from the large research project evaluating the Side by Side programme, which was led by Mind. It provides information about the impact of community-based peer support for mental health and suggests ways to improve this kind of support in the future. At its core, peer support is about the relationships that people build as they share their own experiences...
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report sets out the early findings from the large research project evaluating the Side by Side programme, which was led by Mind. It provides information about the impact of community-based peer support for mental health and suggests ways to improve this kind of support in the future. At its core, peer support is about the relationships that people build as they share their own experiences to help and support each other. The Side by Side programme – funded by the Big Lottery – took place between February 2015 and January 2017. It aimed to improve the lives of people experiencing mental health difficulties across England by increasing the availability of community-based peer support. The programme was run by Mind in partnership with 48 groups and partner organisations in nine areas across England: it raised awareness of peer support with 73,926 people; provided online peer support to 17,936 people; and facilitated face-to-face peer support with 3,255 people. The research found that as people engaged with more peer support, their wellbeing, hope for the future, connections to others, and self-efficacy (feeling like they can make positive changes to their own situation) improved. The economic analysis also found that people taking part in the Side by Side evaluation used fewer health services while they were involved with peer support. They also depended less on friends and family members to care for them. However, it is not certain whether this is caused by the programme or a combination of other factors.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Mind sent a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to all mental health trusts in England and Welsh Health Boards, to find out the number of people followed up from care within 7 days following their discharge from adult mental health inpatient services. The FoI was prompted by the high suicide rate among people recently discharged from hospital. NICE guidelines currently recommend follow-up should
(Edited publisher abstract)
Mind sent a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to all mental health trusts in England and Welsh Health Boards, to find out the number of people followed up from care within 7 days following their discharge from adult mental health inpatient services. The FoI was prompted by the high suicide rate among people recently discharged from hospital. NICE guidelines currently recommend follow-up should be within seven days, or 48 hours where a suicide risk is identified. The analysis of the results concludes that at least one in ten people are not being followed up within seven days, which the analysis estimates amounts to at least 11,000 people in England and Wales.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
hospital discharge, severe mental health problems, after care, mental health care;