New analysis of the latest NHS statistics by Clerkenwell Health show that more than 1 in 10 mental health professional jobs in the NHS are currently unfilled. The analysis also reveals significant regional disparity with the North West and Midlands faring worse than average, with 17.5 per cent and 14.9 per cent respectively of mental health jobs vacant. This compares to an overall NHS medical vacancy rate of 5.8 per cent.<\/p>\n
The figures come alongside a sharp increase in the number of people seeking contact with NHS mental health services every month – rising consistently from 1.3 million people a month in June 2020 to 1.75 million people a month by March 2023. Meanwhile an extra 3,000 people every month are also occupying a bed in a mental health hospital, when compared to January 2021.<\/p>\n
The latest NHS data also shows a sharp rise in the number of antidepressants prescribed. Between October to December 2022 (the latest figures available), 22 million antidepressants were prescribed to an estimated 6.6 million identified patients. This compares to 15 million prescriptions in Q1 of 2015 and 19.6 million in October to December 2020.<\/p>\n
The new analysis comes from Clerkenwell Health, the first commercial organisation in Europe to design and deliver clinical trials for a range of drug developers to find novel treatments for complex mental health conditions. They are working with drug manufacturers to explore innovative treatments for conditions with which the NHS is struggling to cope including treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD and alcohol use disorder, as well as conditions affecting the central nervous system.<\/p>\n