Scenarios

Chapter 10: Using health information and epidemiology

Approximately one in six adults in a local area have a mild mental disorder which accounts for one in four consultations with GPs. More severe but less common conditions, such as schizophrenia, affect approximately one in a thousand people. The area has statistically significantly higher rates of hospital admissions under general psychiatry than the national average.

• 1. How would you assess the mental health needs of a population in this area?

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  Correct answer:
  This will include an understanding of the epidemiology of mental health in the population. Sources of information would include the ONS Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (or equivalent), and census data. The Association of Public Health Observatories in the UK has produced estimates of prevalence of common mental health conditions. A comparative assessment of local provision against national norms, e.g. of prescribing data may be undertaken. It is important to include the views of service users, perhaps by using the voluntary sector.