Whole-person care: from rhetoric to reality
Royal College of Psychiatrists –UK – March 2013
Available online PDF [95p.] at: http://bit.ly/YFvjwS
“…..In our society mental health does not receive the same attention as physical health. People with mental health problems frequently experience stigma and discrimination, not only in the wider community but also from services. This is exemplified in part by lower treatment rates for mental health conditions and an underfunding of mental healthcare relative to the scale and impact of mental health problems….”
Professor Sue Bailey, FRCPsych, OBE President, The Royal College of Psychiatrists
“…..This report should be seen as the first stage of an ongoing process over the next 5–10 years that will deliver parity for mental health and make whole-person care a reality. It builds on the Implementation Framework for the Mental Health Strategy5 in providing further analysis of why parity does not currently exist, and the actions required to bring it about.
A ‘parity approach’ should enable NHS and local authority health and social care services to provide a holistic, ‘whole person’ response to each individual, whatever their needs, and should ensure that all publicly funded services, including those provided by private organisations, give people’s mental health equal status to their physical health needs.
Central to this approach is the fact that there is a strong relationship between mental health and physical health, and that this influence works in both directions. Poor mental health is associated with a greater risk of physical health problems, and poor physical health is associated with a greater risk of mental health problems. Mental health affects physical health and viceversa… “..[AU]
Content:
Key recommendations
Introduction
Terms of reference and methodology
Definition and vision for parity of esteem
The funding gap: disparity in funding for mental health
The treatment gap: disparity in access to treatment for mental health problems
NHS Outcomes Framework Domain 1: Preventing people from dying prematurely
NHS Outcomes Framework Domain 2: Enhancing quality of life for people with long-term conditions
NHS Outcomes Framework Domain 3: Helping people to recover from episodes of ill health or following injury
NHS Outcomes Framework Domain 4: Ensuring that people have a positive experience of care
NHS Outcomes Framework Domain 5: Treating and caring for people in a safe environment and protecting them from avoidable harm
A life-course approach: early intervention, children and young people and older people
Measurement and monitoring of parity: data, research, audit and inspection
A cross-government approach to parity
Annexe A1. Lester UK Adaptation: Positive Cardiometabolic Health Resource
Annexe A2. Programme for implementing the Lester UK Adaptation
Annexe B. Summary of recommendations for parity
Annexe C. Parity commitments from working group member organisations, Royal Colleges and others
References
Related articles
- It’s time to end the NHS bias against mental health (telegraph.co.uk)
- Give mental health same priority as physical, says Royal College of Psychiatrists (telegraph.co.uk)
- Paul Burstow: NHS is ‘biased’ against treating mental health (telegraph.co.uk)
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