Royal College of Psychiatrists – Mental health waiting times

Survey of 501 British adults with a diagnosed mental health problem on the length of mental health waiting times on the NHS, and the impact of these waits.

• More than half (55%) of British adults with a diagnosed mental health problem who sought NHS treatment say they had to wait more than 4 weeks to see a mental health specialist, while over a quarter (27%) say they waited more than three months
• Of those who say they waited more than a week to see a mental health specialist, two in five (37%) say that their mental health got worse as a result of waiting
• Further, those who say their mental health got worse as a result of waiting to see a mental health specialist report a range of impacts on other aspects of their lives: 69% say this had a social impact, half (51%) that it led to problems with their physical health and over a third (36%) that it led to relationship problems such as separation or divorce

Date Published: 09/10/2018

Categories: GB | Health | Public and communities | Social

Client: Royal College of Psychiatrists

Methodology

ComRes interviewed 501 British adults aged 18+ with a diagnosed mental health problem* online between 17th-22nd August 2018. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all British adults aged 18+ with a diagnosed mental health problem by age, gender and region. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

*Must say that they have experienced a mental health problem and it was formally diagnosed by a GP or other mental health professional to qualify.

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