Data on mental health and well-being in Guernsey – new report
Comprehensive overview of islands’ mental health published today in first annual report on Guernsey’s mental health and well-being strategy.
In September last year, the States of Guernsey launched an ambitious mental health and well-being strategy to run until 2029. Implementation is being overseen by a steering group that includes representatives from multiple disciplines, including those with lived experience of mental ill-health, those working in primary care, the private and charitable sectors.
Photo by Samuel Sulaiman
The steering group has undertaken to publish a report each year on progress. Today (July 2, 2024) sees publication of the first annual report on progress. Since it covers less than a full year of implementation, this initial report is focused on the first of the four main ‘pillars’ to the strategy: understanding and collating Bailiwick of Guernsey datasets.
(As work progresses, subsequent reports will be able to address in more depth the other three pillars: awareness, access and early intervention; service improvements; and responding to recommendations of external reviews.)
This first annual report presents data from a variety of sources in one place for the first time, providing a comprehensive view of mental health and well-being across Guernsey from the level of population to individual service areas. Effectively, it establishes a baseline dataset on which to build.
There are also some intriguing findings in this initial report. For example, the authors note a demonstrated ‘appetite for mental health awareness and related training’ among those working in community and third-sector services. The report also notes increased demand across a range of services:
- Demand for adult specialist services rose 10% between 2022 and 2023 (1,327 referral compared with 1,677)
- Demand for child and adolescent services rose 14% in the same period (585 referrals compared with 684)
While there was a slight reduction in admissions to the specialist in-patient facility Crevichon Ward, the report notes a sharp rise in the number of admissions associated with use of cannabis: from 4% in 2019 to 25% in 2023. Though these figures are for relatively low numbers of individual patients – that 25% represents just 27 individual admissions – the upward trend is still striking and worth watching in future.
The report also notes a concerning rise in housing deprivation and income inequality across the islands over the period 2014 to 2020, and underlines the need for cross-policy actions to more effectively address what it calls ‘the wide-ranging social, economic and environmental factors that impact mental health and wellbeing, including poverty, stigma and discrimination.’
Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health, says: ‘I am really pleased with the progress made with the implementation of the MHWB Strategy since its launch in September 2023. A “whole islands” approach to mental health and wellbeing is key and considering mental health and wellbeing in all policies will help address the social, economic and environmental factors that impact people’s mental health and well-being. A key part of the strategy is the partnership working across the States of Guernsey, voluntary and private sector. We are very grateful to our key partners across the islands and look forward to continuing to strengthen relationships, services and joint working.’
Deputy Marc Leadbeater, Vice-President of the Committee for Health & Social Care and Chair of the Mental Health and Well-being Steering Group, adds: ‘The steering group is currently working on a number of actions within the strategy to improve care experiences for those with mental ill health in the community. We look forward to reporting on the progress of these within the 2024 annual report.’
Jo Cottell, Chief Executive of Guernsey Mind, says: ‘We are pleased that this report highlights the continued efforts across the charitable and voluntary sector, States of Guernsey and other partners to raise awareness of mental health and the importance of prevention and early intervention.’
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