Economic conditions in the UK impact on public sector borrowing, which impacts on the resources available for mental health. The reduction in the availability of cash for mental health services affects the level of service provision. The existing need for mental health services is impacted by increased need for mental health intervention due to the effects of the economic downturn.

Current inequalities in incomes and health outcomes continue resulting in a lack of jobs or appropriate housing for mental health patients, resulting in a society with large disparities.

Proposed workforce impact

• Increased demand for mental health services
• Difficult to provide appropriate care in the future, if service users’ basic needs are not being met
• Downbanding of staff in mental health
• Change in investment in medical funding

Sources or references

• HM Treasury, (2010), An introduction to Spending Review, Public spending & reporting.
• www.budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk.
• Duncan et al., (2001), Optimal Indicators of Socioeconomic Status for Health Research, Am J Public Health, 92, 7, 1151-1157.
• Singh-Manoux et al., (2003), Subjective social status: its determinants and its association with measures of ill-health in the Whitehall II study, Social Science and Medicine, 56, 6, 1321-1333.

Additional research questions

• Could the workforce of services undergoing cuts be deployed in other ways, or are these roles too specialised?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.