WIREDGOV

Changes reflect an increase in community treatment.

The number of people being admitted to hospital with mental health illnesses has fallen dramatically, according to latest figures.

Figures for Mental Health Inpatient Care, published today by ISD Scotland, show that admissions and discharges have fallen by around 17 per cent since 2006/07.

As at 31 March 2014, there were just under 3,500 people resident in Scottish psychiatric hospitals. That number has fallen by more than a half since 1997/98.

The health inequality gap for mental health hospital admissions has also narrowed. Since 2006/07 the gap between discharges for the most deprived areas and the least deprived has reduced by 22 per cent.

The trend reflects the shift in recent years towards treating more people with mental health problems in community settings, rather than admitting them to hospital. The availability of specialist community health teams has been increased, and more services are been made available from general practices.

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said:

“I am pleased to see this continuing decline in hospitalisations for mental illness, with a 17 per cent fall under this government. There are cases where a hospital admission is the best option for the patient. However, for many people the most effective treatments can be delivered in community settings, while they are living at home.

"Expenditure on mental health services is around £900 million in Scotland. We have increased access to psychological therapies, allowing more people to stay out of hospital. We have worked with NHS boards to improve the prescribing of anti-depressants and other medications, meaning that people are given appropriate treatment when they need it.

“On child and adolescent mental health services, we were the first country in the UK to introduce waiting times for treatments. The workforce has been increased by 45 per cent since 2008, and we have recently announced a £15 million mental health innovation fund, which will be partly used to improve access to services for children and young people.”

Notes To Editors

Mental Health Hospital Inpatient Care Statistics can be viewed at www.isdscotland.org