Over a quarter of people suffering from severe mental illnesses have experienced problems accessing help for their condition, according to a survey published on Monday.

The Rethink "Just one per cent" report found that 28 per cent of people suffering health problems such as schizophrenia faced difficulty getting support in the last three years.

A spokesman for the Department of Health told ePolitix.com: "Significant progress has been made during 2002/3 to establish a range of specialised teams and services across the country to support people with severe mental illness, but we welcome Rethink's survey and acknowledge there is still a way to go:

"We are planning to include CPA and access to psychological therapies and moderns drugs (both highlighted by the survey) in star ratings for mental health trusts and PCTs.

"Data from the first quarter of 2002, the first time such information was captured, suggests that around 85 per cent of patients had a written care plan at the time of discharge. We expect both data quality and the rate to improve with time and further information on progress will be available in due course.

"We are giving prominence to quality of life in several ways - a forthcoming national patient survey, pilot work on measuring the performance of services and joint work with the SEU (Social Exclusion Unit) focussing on stigma and discrimination towards adults with mental health problems, access to appropriate education, training and employment and accessibility and adequacy of key services such as health, housing and finance

"The NHS Plan/PPF target to improve access to Mental Health services by establishing 170 assertive outreach teams has been met; and targets for 50 early intervention teams; 335 crisis resolution teams; new staff and new ways of working are on track. Over £550,000 has been invested in pilots and a training programme for them.

"The government has set mental health service modernisation as a priority for the NHS. The National Service Framework (1999) and NHS Plan (2000) set new standards and targets alongside new investment of over £300 million to reshape care and treatment in line with the evidence base, and the needs and wishes of service

"We have now developed new ways of working to help reform mental health in primary care. On 24th April 10 sets of guidelines for GPs with Special Interests in different clinical-specialities were issued, including one for mental health, drug misuse and a framework for Nurses with Special Interests, undertaking outpatient appointments in a primary care setting.

"GPs and nurses play a fundamental role in the early detection of mental health problems, which is why we have urged them both to take on these new specialist roles. GPs specialising in mental health can provide assessment, advice, information and treatment on behalf of primary care colleagues for patients with common mental health problems. This new approach unites the special interests of individual nurses and doctors with local and national priorities for service development."

Forum Response: Depression Alliance

Jim Thomson, director of Depression Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "This groundbreaking survey could not have come at a more opportune moment. It gives a voice to people who have been silenced for many years, at a time when government are drawing up guidelines on mental health treatment and possibly bringing forward new mental health legislation.

"Most importantly, it underlines that very few service users are satisfied with their quality of life, and need a comprehensive package of care - one that looks at the biological, psychological and social aspects of their illness.

"Depression can often be a severe and enduring mental illness, sometime this is because appropriate, early interventions are not made available. We are not convinced that the government really understands the delicate 'ecology' of mental health and hope that this new research will help them grasp the real problems and solutions."

Sane

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane, told ePolitix.com: "Rethink's survey echoes many of the concerns expressed by callers to our helpline, Saneline, particularly the high numbers of people who are given little or no help when they first seek it. But it is the fundamentals of healthcare, for what to many is a lifelong illness, which is the root of their problems.

"Until we fill some of the 400 consultant psychiatrist vacancies and train more nurses and other mental health workers, individuals, their families and carers, will continue to experience neglect."