Dear Councillor,
Congratulations on your election, and best wishes in your new role representing your local community.
We are writing on behalf of the Mental Health Action campaign to introduce ourselves and to see whether it may be possible to arrange a conversation with you to update you on the work we have been doing regarding the NHS Talking Therapies model and the high levels of dropout rates we are seeing across services.
We understand your commitment to our NHS and to ensuring local services genuinely meet the needs of residents, and we would really welcome the opportunity to speak with you about our campaign, share information and discuss some of the concerns being raised by service users, campaigners and mental health professionals to hopefully also have your pledge to support the objectives of our campaign: make mental health services accessible to all.
We know from experience that understanding systems and models like this can sometimes feel complex, but it does not need to be. This is precisely why we feel so passionate about sharing knowledge and empowering one another so that together we can help bring an end to such high levels of dropout rates and ensure psychological and mental health services remain accessible, suitable and adequate to local community needs.
Some of the areas we have developed particular experience and knowledge on include:
• High dropout and attrition rates within NHS Talking Therapies
Last year, 1.8 million people contacted TT for help. Only a third received a course of therapy and only a sixth recovered. Over one million people dropped out.
• The growing use of AI and automation within therapeutic settings
Therapy is increasingly delivered by digital technology rather than face-to-face meetings. A high percentage of sessions are based on self-help books with guidance by phone or video. Millions of NHS sessions are being processed by global data companies to build fully autonomous AI therapy platforms.
• The erosion of compassion, relational care and human connection within mental health services
Along with many other sectors of mental health services, Talking Therapies is organised on a formulaic model, maximising standardisation of delivery and speed of throughput (or flow). The relationship between therapist and client is undervalued in favour of techniques and counting results.
• The impact current models are having on accessibility, engagement and outcomes for residents
• The high cost of each therapy session
We are particularly concerned that many residents remain on extremely long waiting lists while large numbers of therapy sessions go unused due to high attrition and poor engagement with the current model. We believe there is an important conversation to be had around diversification of therapy and stronger support for community-led mental health projects.
We would be very happy to arrange a face-to-face briefing, attend scrutiny sessions, or support information meetings if helpful.
We also attach the open letters sent to NHS Trusts and ICBs nationally, alongside the live NHS Talking Therapies dashboard where local statistics can be viewed directly, you can find the letter we have sent to your local ICB below:
Best wishes,
xxxx
Mental Health Action Campaign
Best wishes,
xxxx
Mental Health Action Campaign
