Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Mental Health and Long-term Conditions — [Sir Robert Syms in the Chair]

16 May 2024 · 3 other contributors · 7,786 words

Opened by Peter Dowd Lab Bootle

Responding minister: Maria Caulfield

Mental HealthNHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Peter Dowd raised concerns about mental health and long-term conditions — [sir robert syms in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • People with long-term physical health conditions are more likely to experience mental ill health, leading to poorer quality of life.
  • The Government has committed significant funding towards mental health services, investing over 16 billion annually.
  • A 46% increase in mental health service referrals across the UK indicates growing demand for these services.

Key requests to Government

The Government should clarify how the forthcoming major conditions plan will support closer integration between physical and mental healthcare services, ensuring that mental wellbeing needs are met for people living with long-term conditions. The Minister must also consider increased funding for research into the relationship between kidney disease and mental health to enable essential service development.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Peter Dowd Lab Bootle

People with long-term physical health conditions are more likely to experience mental ill health, leading to poorer quality of life. The key concern is the lack of integration between physical and mental healthcare services. Parkinson's disease affects up to 40% of sufferers with depression and up to 30% with anxiety, higher than the general population's 17%. Research indicates that people with diabetes are twice as likely to experience depression and suffer from it more frequently and longer. Studies show over half of all MS patients will experience depression at some point in their lives, and nearly half of those with arthritis report persistent pain affecting mental health negatively.

Other contributors (3)
  • Abena Oppong-Asare Lab Erith and Thamesmead

    The MP highlighted the failure of the Government to deliver adequate mental health services, citing statistics such as more than 1.9 million people waiting for treatment and a yearly cost of £300 billion. She emphasized the need for prevention-based approaches, increasing NHS staffing by recruiting more specialists, providing support in schools, and reforming the Mental Health Act.

  • Khalid Mahmood Lab Birmingham, Perry Barr

    Mr. Mahmood discussed the challenges faced by kidney patients, emphasizing the importance of mental health support alongside physical treatment. He highlighted that in 2022, a survey found 67% of kidney disease patients had experienced depression symptoms and 36% could not fully look after their physical health due to mental health issues. He also mentioned recommendations from Kidney Research UK and Centre for Mental Health for the recruitment of renal psychologists at every renal centre in the UK.

  • Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett

    Dealing with long-term health conditions creates a significant mental health burden, as people with physical health problems are two to three times more likely to have depression. People with severe mental illness in England are almost five times more likely to experience poor health and premature death. Liz Twist highlighted the challenges faced by those with rare conditions, which affect over 3.5 million people in the UK, including difficulties accessing care due to a lack of clinician awareness, long delays in diagnosis, and inadequate support services.

Government Response

Maria Caulfield

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. The Government recognises the importance of addressing mental health for those with long-term conditions and has committed significant funding towards mental health services. Over £16 billion is invested annually in mental health, enabling 3.6 million people to access mental health services. A 46% increase in referrals across the UK indicates a growing demand for these services. The NHS talking therapies programme has seen over 1.2 million people access its services in the past year—an 11% increase since 2019. Services are expanding further to support those with mental ill health and long-term conditions, including working with the Department for Work and Pensions to assist individuals struggling due to their condition. Diagnostic overshadowing is a key issue where mental illness may lead to poorer clinical outcomes. The NHS long-term plan includes record levels of funding for increasing the mental health workforce, targeting 27,000 mental health workers by 2023-24 and already exceeding £4.7 billion in additional spending since 2019. For children with long-term conditions, the Government has established early support hubs and mental health support teams in schools to provide emotional and psychological support.

▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy