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New report highlights barriers to care for people with complex mental illness

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in News on 10th April, 2025

A new report from the Centre for Mental Health reveals that people with complex mental health difficulties often struggle to access the care and treatment they need. The report, launched at the House of Lords, explores the impact of current services and highlights alternative approaches that could improve care.

The DPT-led HEARD study, referenced in the report, estimates that hospital care for people with complex mental health difficulties costs between £480-785 million annually. Despite these costs, long hospital stays often leave people disconnected from their support networks, largely because appropriate community-based alternatives are not available.

The report proposes a community-based model that includes intensive psychotherapy, a psychodynamic therapeutic community day programme and high-support accommodation where needed. A pilot of this approach in Devon demonstrated better outcomes for service users and their families, significantly reducing both the number and duration of hospital admissions (locally and out of area) as well as emergency service attendance.

Fintan Larkin, Chief Medical Officer, Susan Howson, Consultant Psychiatrist and Chief Clinical Information Officer, and Tobit Emmens, Associate Director of Research and Development, attended the report’s launch on behalf of our organisation. Fintan said: “This important research highlights that Devon Partnership NHS Trust and our partner organisations, have the data, expertise and drive needed to study, innovate and address these considerable challenges."

For more details, read the full report: Improving Support for People with Complex Mental Health Difficulties

The response from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) is available to read on their website.

Baroness Hollis, Tobit Emmens and Fintan Larkin smiling Group of people standing listening to the speaker

(Left: Susan Howson, Tobit Emmens and Fintan Larkin. Right: Attendees listening to Baroness Hollis at the report launch.)

 

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