Healthwatch Cornwall is calling for immediate action to improve mental health services in the county following research published today.
Based on people’s real experiences, the in-depth review highlights critical gaps in crisis support, long waiting times and the ongoing stigma faced by those with mental health issues in workplace and healthcare settings.
Key findings indicate:
· Severe workforce shortages
· Excessive waiting times
· Eligibility barriers to specialist care
· Rural and coastal health inequalities
· Out-of-county patient placements
· Funding and service fragmentation
· Limited treatment options
The Healthwatch Cornwall research consisted of two surveys carried out from October 2024 to January 2025 (241 responses), insights gathered from personal experiences reported online, by phone and in person (187 responses), data collected by the Healthwatch team during observational visits to health and social care providers and a data request to Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. In total feedback was gathered from 514 individuals.
One participant shared: ‘I was desperate for help, but the waiting list was months long. By the time I got support, I had already reached crisis point.’
To address the challenges, Healthwatch Cornwall recommends:
· Maximising the existing workforce by introducing group-based mental health support in GP surgeries, providing basic mental health training for reception staff and offering flexible working arrangements to improve staff retention.
· Reducing waiting times without extra funding by developing structured ‘while-you-wait’ support systems that include digital self-help resources, peer support groups, and check-ins for those on waiting lists.
· Improving rural access by using libraries, community centres, and local venues for mental health drop-in sessions, expanding telephone and online support, and exploring subsidised travel options for those attending appointments.
· Strengthening crisis support without overloading A&E by training non-clinical staff in de-escalation techniques, expanding crisis helplines and creating safe
community spaces for out-of-hours mental health support.
· Expanding treatment options beyond CBT and medication by encouraging social prescribing, integrating peer-led support groups, and improving staff training in trauma-informed care and neurodiversity.
· Simplifying access to services by standardising GP referral forms, developing a central online directory of mental health services, and ensuring every discharged patient receives a clear care plan.
· Making mental health care more inclusive by providing alternatives to phone-based services, strengthening mental health support in schools, and encouraging mental health awareness initiatives in workplaces.
· Reducing out-of-county placements by expanding community-based crisis support, working with care homes to provide local respite beds, and improving discharge planning for those returning from out-of-county treatment.
Debbie Gilbert, CEO of Healthwatch Cornwall, said: “This is an insightful and hard-hitting report that amplifies the voices of those struggling with mental health challenges. Their stories make it clear: change is needed now. Long waiting times, particularly for autism and children’s learning disability assessments, are unacceptable and leave families in limbo. We urge decision-makers to listen and take meaningful action to improve mental health services in Cornwall.”
To view the report, visit https://www.healthwatchcornwall.co.uk/news-and-reports