How EAPs are protecting the NHS

How EAPs are protecting the NHS

The number of referrals to NHS mental health services have hit their highest level for two years, signalling a new surge in cases.

The BBC’s Shared Data Unit figures from 117 Clinical Commissioning Groups and health boards across the UK showed around 300,000 people were referred to NHS mental health services in March 2021. This was a rise of 18% from the month before the pandemic struck. The biggest rises were seen in England. CCGs in Leeds, Redbridge and Greater Preston have seen referrals more than double compared to pre-Covid levels.

In response, the government plans to expand and transform mental health services with £2.3bn annual funding a year by 2023-24.

The need for early intervention

Most worryingly, the number of people actually receiving mental health treatment is lower than before the pandemic, raising concerns over the lack of access to timely interventions. Charities have flagged how people are being one long distances to receive support and care because of a lack of local beds, as well as an “acute rise” in numbers of people experiencing PTSD.

Geoff Heyes, head of health policy at MIND, said: “Had those people been able to get support earlier, be that through community mental health services, through talking therapies in their community, they may well have not got that unwell.”

EAPs step up

EAPA UK chair Eugene Farrell said: “EAPs are helping to ease the burden on NHS services, offering easier access for employees to mental health support, when and how it’s needed, and at an earlier stage.

“An EAPA study last year compared the use and waiting times for NHS services (via the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT)) with EAPs. This showed an average waiting time from referral to treatment of 20 days through IAPT, compared with 8.8 days with an EAP. Clients who completed treatment with IAPT needed an average of 6.9 sessions; with EAPs this was four.”

How EAPs are protecting the NHS – EAPA UK