Still questions to answer over mental health

Two local news outlets, including this newspaper, independently used the words ‘glowing report’ in their headlines, and yet the reaction to it has largely been negative. Service users, or those who know them, seem prepared to counter these views, even if they won’t actually raise their issues publicly.

‘Guernsey has good mental health services, which in many ways are as good as or better than those in most countries in the world,’ wrote David Gedze, an approved social worker, who reviewed services, spoke to staff on the basis that the report would stay private, and presented conclusions and recommendations.

With the 2018 review’s release only sparked by a swathe of questions from Deputy Lester Queripel, it now seems inevitable that some deputies will be posing more questions as a result.

Even without the publication of the report summary, we know that mental health services in the island are under great strain, firstly, due to demand, and secondly due to the problems with recruitment and retention in this specialised sector.

Many of the recommendations included in the report have been acted upon, HSC says. Those recommendations do highlight significant failings, however, from staffing to cross-discipline coordination. HSC can also expect to face future challenge over waiting times, pathways, facilities and staffing.

We understand that some kind of follow-up review is on the way in 2022. It seems much-needed.

The breadth of the service is challenging in itself. From dementia care, those people with long-term disabilities, adolescents, those with substance abuse issues, and crisis patients, it constitutes a significant, sometimes underestimated, part of the island’s health and social care services.

Islanders today are very aware of mental health and its importance to the community at large.

They will know that there may well be challenges to secure the appropriate support for all – but the community would surely wish to be better informed of those issues, rather than simply presented with a ‘glowing’ summary.