In our previous article, we discussed the challenges facing Bristol’s mental health, looking at both the increasing incidences of mental health disorders amid a growing population and the social circumstances, such as the cost of living crisis, connected to these developments. In the post’s conclusion, we described the challenges many faced when seeking support for their wellbeing and mental health, and how many mainstream services, such as the NHS, are continuing to fall short when meeting the new demand. Now, we’d like to look further into this issue.

On a national level, it was recently discovered that around 23% of all those seeking mental health support from mainstream health services wait over 12 weeks before beginning their treatment. This wait time causes a number of issues but most notably the potential for disorders and wellbeing to further develop, which, evidently, it does as 43% of patients say the wait time explicitly led to their mental ill health getting worse. 

When forced to wait for mental health support, it is often the case that those struggling experience stress, anxiety, and even anger due to the prolonged instance of uncertainty. These issues, along with fear and a reduction of self-esteem become more established and harmful as time passes. Subsequently, 78% of patients placed on waiting lists sought emergency services, with over a quarter reaching out to crisis lines and 12% going to A&E.

While more government funds have been directed toward mental health services in the UK, there are concerns that, amid a growing need for support and increased frequency of mental health disorders, this action is not enough. There are, for example, an estimated number of one million patients in need of specialist mental healthcare who remain on waitlists.

Alongside waiting times, which are becoming increasingly well-documented, there are also pervasive issues regarding misdiagnosis and lack of available support. Doctors can even fall short of offering necessary support because they are unaware of available resources. 

Misdiagnosis rates are generally considered to be exceptionally high. Bipolar disorder is, for example, misdiagnosed over 90% of the time, along with major depressive disorder (65.9%) and social anxiety disorder (97.8%). With a shortage of practicing psychiatrists within the NHS, this problem persists along with growing waitlists. In 2021, it was estimated that there is only a single psychiatrist per 12,567 individuals in the UK.

These statistics are also without social nuance too and it continues to be recognised that various social groups experience mental health support differently. Children, for example, experience what has been referred to as a “scandalous postcode lottery” of mental health support, with some children waiting almost as long as three years to receive necessary help. There are also the ongoing challenges that face marginalised communities, a topic on which we at Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy have written extensively.

This mental health landscape means that the experience of seeking and receiving support is vastly different depending on factors such as race, age, and income. Black men in the UK, for example, are more likely to experience mental health disorders than any other social group and yet continue to receive the lowest amount of mental health support. As such, evidenced statistics should be considered carefully since, for many, across the UK, the reality of their wellbeing is much more complicated and, often, worse.

What does this mean for Bristol?

Well, Bristol has a statistically higher incidence of mental ill health, with around 20% seeking support compared with the UK’s average of 15.5%. The city also has a higher number of average suicides, particularly among students. 21.43% of those surveyed in Healthwatch’s report stated that available services fell short of meeting their needs (84% sought support from their GP). Mental health, it seems, is a great concern.

To talk to us about your mental health or any concerns you may have about your wellbeing, please email our team at hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk. We provide a variety of services to support your needs and have initial consultation slots available right away.