joint strategic needs assessment foundation profile - JSNA

Interative Hull Atlas: www.hullpublichealth.org/Pages/hull_atlas.htm More information: www.jsnaonline.org and www.hullpublichealth.org
10.9 Mental Health
10.9.1 Introduction
It is relatively difficult to assess the impact of poor mental health. Information relating to
the prevalence of mental health is limited with generally only information on the
prevalence of serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia etc. The numbers
of people requiring hospital admission or who die from mental health conditions is small
and therefore it is not straightforward to present the information. As well as there being
limited information on the prevalence and impact of less serious mental health
conditions, the assessment of mental health is made more difficult as people may
choose not to seek help and it is possible that a large proportion of mental ill-health is
undiagnosed.
There are some measures of mental health and well-being that can be examined locally.
A survey examining aspects of social capital in relation to health was conducted during
2004 in Hull (Hunter, Lee et al. 2005). A further survey specifically on social capital has
been completed during 2009, and the findings from this survey are presented below.
The Health and Lifestyle Survey conducted during 2007 also collected information on
social capital as well as the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Health and Lifestyle Survey
2007 and the Gypsy and Traveller Health and Lifestyle Survey 2007 which all used the
same questionnaire. The Young People Health and Lifestyle Survey 2008-09 also
collected information on feelings of safety and the frequency of being happy and sad.
See section 13.2 on page 790 for more information about the local surveys. The full
reports from these surveys are all available at www.hullpublichealth.org. Social capital
examines feelings of safety when walking around after dark in the community, civic
engagement, neighbourliness, social networks and social support. It is argued that
improved social capital can have a positive influence on the mental health and wellbeing
of the people living in the community. However, it should also be noted that there
can sometimes be a negative effect with improved social capital such as social networks
which, for example, lead to easier access to smuggled tobacco or drugs, peer-pressure
to continue smoking or eating a poor diet. These surveys also included questions
relating to mental health which form the Mental Health Index, and the Health and
Lifestyle Survey included the Health Utility Index which included an emotional health
component. The Social Capital Surveys of 2004 and 2009 also measured perceived
levels of stress and pressure over the last year.
To assess „need‟ for mental health services, it is also possible to examine the number
and percentage of Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance claimants
where the main reason for the claim was mental health.
There are GP registers for dementia and serious mental health as part of the Quality
and Outcomes Framework (QOF), and the prevalence of these conditions can be
examined for each practice in Hull.
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