In August 2021, we reported on record numbers of combined mental health referrals to NHS Services in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
We found:
- In March 2021, monthly mental health referrals across the UK hit their highest point in two years.
- Around 300,000 people were referred to NHS mental health services in Great Britain in March this year, a rise of 18% from the total in February 2020, the month before the pandemic struck.
- The rise is driven by an increase in referrals across England. Some CCGs, like Leeds, Redbridge and Greater Preston, have seen referrals more than double compared to pre-Covid levels.
- But while referrals are rising, the number of people receiving mental health treatment remains lower than pre-pandemic levels.
- Over the same time period, our analysis found the number of people in contact with the service had dropped by around 67,000 - a fall of 9%.
Charities have suggested a combination of social distancing restrictions and a move to online treatments has reduced capacity. Concerns are also growing that a spike in urgent crisis referrals suggests people are entering the system more unwell than they would have been.
Method
We analysed figures from 117 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) in England, and health boards across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For England, we ignored CCGs which were created in an NHS reorganisation in April 2020, and those which ceased to exist at the same time, as it would have been impossible to compare change over time.
English data came from the .
Scottis hdata was sourced from publication.
For Wales, we analysed data from , while data from Northern Ireland was supplied on request by Health and Social Care Northern Ireland.
Data
Our findings were shared in a spreadsheet, . We also produced a detailed background pack, available .
Partner Usage
The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and the News Media Association. Stories based on this research included:
- Inverness Courier: 23 August 2021
- Island Echo 18 August 2021
- Northampton Chronicle and Echo 19 August 2021
- Mental Health Today 18 August 2021
- Cornish Stuff , 19 August 2021
- Hemel Today 20 August 2021
- Romford Recorder 18 August 2021
- Nothamptonshire Telegraph 19 August 2021
- Bristol Cable 2 September 2021
- Warrington Guardian 29 August 2021
The story featured on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 news bulletins and on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News builletins, as well as on local radio stations such as Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 3 Counties Radio, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Solent, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Cambridgeshire, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Cornwall, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ West Midlands, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hereford and Worcester, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Leicester, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Nottingham, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Kent, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Cornwall and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Leeds.
It was also covered by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Northern Ireland and East Midlands Today.