The Association launches the first national picture of mental health service provision
8 March 2023: The Association of Mental Health Providers (The Association), the national voice of mental health charities providing services in England and Wales, has created the first ever complete picture of mental health service provision across England via a freely available interactive map. By combining data from the The Association’s members and other mental health service providers alongside demographic data, the map helps users understand where gaps in provision are located and can help build cases for future government funding.
Designed to be used by Integrated Care Systems (ICS), Local Councils, Government and other decision and policy makers in the mental health and social care sector, as well as mental health provider charities (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector), all stakeholders now have access to compelling data to help with planning, strategies and funding from national to local level.
The new tool is expected to be particularly valuable to the 42 ICS, who require an accurate, integrated picture of their populations and healthcare services. Using the map, they can now reveal areas where there is insufficient mental health service provision using robust data and make informed commissioning decisions.
Developed by the Association of Mental Health Providers, working in partnership with Esri UK, experts in location intelligence and spatial analysis, the tool integrates data from NHS, Care Quality Commission (CQC), mental health provider charities (VCSE sector), plus other population and demographic data from the ArcGIS Living Atlas which includes Census data and some curated data sourced from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
Currently it is mapping 843 CQC registered services and 884 of The Association’s members’ locations. Initial findings suggest there is a level of unmet need for 2 million people.
Kathy Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Mental Health Providers says:
“With this tool revealing there are 884 mental health provider charities’ service locations supporting the 843 CQC registered providers, it will be a vital element in planning and funding regional health service provision. Crucially, the tool will unlock patterns and identify gaps in mental health service provision to inform decision making within ICS.
“Feedback from our 300 plus members, delivering over 3,000 services locally, regionally, and nationally, has highlighted concerns that their social care and support services, keeping people safe and well in the community, have been underestimated and have not been recognised in funding analysis.
“As a result, the charitable mental health sector is often overlooked when it comes to allocating funding. However, we know 1 in 8 people in the community receive support from a mental health provider charity and now, through this tool, we can evidence what services, offered by which provider, are being delivered where.
“Esri UK’s reputation as a leading provider of mapping and analytical tools made it the ideal partner to work with. Through this powerful new tool, we look forward to reducing health inequalities by improving access to mental health services within local communities. As a result, we believe it will reduce the pressure on acute, crisis and urgent services within the NHS.
“This mapping tool is an ongoing project and we encourage community engagement from the mental health charity (VCSE) sector for data improvements and validation.”
Duncan Booth, Head of Health & Social Care within Esri UK says:
“By integrating different data sources and giving the data a location, a much needed ‘single view of the truth’ has been created, providing mental health service decision-makers with valuable new insights.
“Combining The Association’s access to service provider data with Esri UK’s geospatial expertise, means previously unconnected data can now be visualised using an easy-to-use map interface, allowing users to make informed decisions and allocate resources more effectively.
“Creating this single view has previously presented a significant data access and technical challenge. Esri UK has geocoded, cleaned and prepared the data so it can work seamlessly within a common platform.
“We are delighted to be working with The Association and contributing to improving access to mental health services, ensuring quality of care is delivered to the people who need it the most. Mental health provision is a key consideration for all ICS and the development of this integrated national dataset will no doubt be incredibly useful for them and deliver positive outcomes.”
The mapping tool can be found here.
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Note to editors
About the Association of Mental Health Providers
Association of Mental Health Providers is the national voice of mental health charities providing services in England and Wales, otherwise known as voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector .
It represents:
- 300 plus members,
- delivering over 3,000 services locally, regionally and nationally,
- reaching 8 million+ people with poor mental health and illness in the community. This equates to 1 in 8 people receiving support from a mental health provider charity.
- Total membership turnover (2021/22 FY) £5.2bn
The Association can provide insight, case studies, research and expertise on all aspects of mental health. It also offers opinion and thought leadership articles on a range of mental health/mental health service provision related topics.
For more information, visit www.amhp.org.uk
Contact: Annie Waddington-Feather, Email: annie@amhp.org.uk, Telephone: 07713646419
Association of Mental Health Providers supports, influences, advises, and informs, and is deeply committed to discussing and reporting stories relating to mental health responsibly, helpfully, and in a way that takes into account the needs of the most vulnerable members of the population. Please read the media charter here.
Through its Living Experience Advisory Group, the Association is working with, being guided by, and learning from people with experience of mental health services.
The Association can also be found on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
About Esri UK
Founded in 1969, Esri is the global market leader in Geographic Information System (GIS) software, location intelligence and mapping and today has 4,000 staff in 73 countries.
Esri UK has over 450 employees with offices in Aylesbury, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Belfast. UK customers include UK Health Security Agency, Public Health Scotland, NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit, Welsh Ambulance Service and NHS North Central London ICB.
Esri’s location intelligence tools are enabling ICS to better understand patient needs, optimise resource allocation and improve care coordination. With Esri technology, ICS are enhancing their operational efficiency and effectiveness, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Website: https://www.esriuk.com/health
Esri UK is also on Twitter and LinkedIn