Lord Darzi was asked for a mental health and social care report by the Secretary of State. Lord Darzi is an academic surgeon and holds the Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at Imperial College London, he is co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation and in general is internationally recognised as a medical innovator, pioneer, and leader.
Here are some of the findings from his report that are concerning.
- There has been a surge in people seeking mental health support. In fact, it is up by 24 percent against pre-pandemic levels. Before the pandemic the NHS already had long waiting times, this situation is now dire.
- Workforce Shortages: Despite expansion efforts, the mental health workforce is not growing fast enough to meet demands. This is impacting the quality of care and staff well-being. The NHS plans to increase mental health nurse training by 93% by 2031/32. At Minded we truly hope this happens, but we also know that that is way too far into the future and spells disaster.
- Funding Gaps: Local mental health budgets are not ring-fenced, leading to inconsistent resource allocation. The NHS Long Term Plan pledged £2.3 billion annually by 2023/24, but demand continues to exceed available funding.
- Policy & Reform: The government has committed to recruiting 8,500 more mental health staff and has introduced a new Suicide Prevention Strategy for 2023-2028.
- The report also emphasised disparities in care, and the urgent need to shift resources towards community-based support.
It is important that public health policy leaders begin to appreciate the role that mind-body techniques like yoga can play in prevention and improvement of mental health conditions. Once taught, a person can continue on their own and improve exponentially over time. Likewise, the physical benefits also support overall wellbeing and reduce the pressure on healthcare systems.
The next time you hear someone commenting on how demand for mental health care is not being met by the NHS, draw their attention to yoga or yoga therapy. Share some cost-effectiveness studies and your own life experience.
What would you tell someone in a leadership/policy position why yoga should be included in mental healthcare? Email marketing@themindedinstitute.com with your words.
