Suicide inquest sparks warning on 'nine month wait' for treatment

Carole Mitchell, who died by suicide on 22 November 2019, waited almost seven months for a first appointment after being referred to Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust for psychology services.

In a prevention of future deaths report, published earlier this month, coroner Alison Mutch said the inquest was told waits had since increased and “someone in Mrs Mitchell’s position today would be more likely to wait nine months”. 

The coroner added evidence heard suggested the delay experienced was “reflective of both the regional and national backlog for appointments”. The report has been sent to both the Department of Health and Social Care and Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.

The report also revealed Ms Mitchell could not access an inpatient mental health bed on a least two occasions “due to limited national mental health bed capacity against the demand within mental health services”.

Ms Mitchell was said to have had a history of involvement with the mental health services, which included admissions to inpatient units between 2017 and 2019. 

Other issues the coroner highlighted included that Ms Mitchell was seen less often after being transferred from home treatment teams, which are crisis teams, to the community mental health team. She also faced waits to access a support worker and, despite it being “clear” it would benefit her, she was not prioritised.

In December, HSJ reported demand for mental health services could rise by 40 per cent following the covid-19 pandemic. 

Waiting times for many mental health services, such as community mental health teams, are generally not published as part of national statistics. Access data is only published on early prevention in psychosis services, talking therapies, children’s community eating disorder services, and community perinatal services. 

The Department of Health and Social Care and GMMHT were approached for comment. Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership told HSJ it would comment after it has responded to the coroner.