Mental health patients are often stigmatised by bad press, but the NHS is constantly working to improve services in this area, starting by giving 92% of patients access to an independent advocacy service according to figures from last year. The majority of mental health patients were also involved in their care plans, with only up to 29% not involved in some way. However, the findings are not all plus points, with some mental health sufferers having to wait over four hours for an approved mental health professional during a crisis, with approximately 7,500 patients ending up in a police cell. 34% of detained patients who died of natural causes were under the age of 60, which shows a shortened live expectancy for mental health patients.
Do you agree with these findings? What is your experience of the mental health act?
