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Gaps and areas for improvement in relation to learning disability and autism are listed on pages 109 – 111 of the main report.
Mental Health
• Thecareandsupportneedsofadultsaged16+withmentalhealthneedshavebeen considered in this section of the Assessment.
• According to the Mental Health Foundation (2015) in any year one in four of us experience a mental health problem, yet three quarters of people with mental health problems receive no treatment.
• Many of us will require support with respect to our mental health throughout our lives whether this is low intensity support for difficulties such as low level anxiety / depression or longer term support.
• Mentalillnesscandevelopfromanumberoffactorsincludingsocialtraumas,illegal drug use and genetic predisposition. Mental health does not discriminate and can affect anyone often leading to debilitating conditions.
• Early intervention is crucial and this can take the form of providing information or referral to community or third sector services. Admissions to inpatient services may occur in extreme situations, where the individual cannot be treated in the community and presents a risk to themselves and/or others.
• Ithasbeenestimatedthattheeconomicandsocialcostsofmentalhealthproblems in Wales is estimated to be £7billion a year (Cyhlarova, 2010).
• In 2015-16, the Welsh Government ring-fenced £587m for mental health services across Wales – up from £389m in 2009-10. Earlier this year, Government announced an additional £15m of new funding is being made available for mental health services in Wales every year.
Gaps and areas for improvement in relation to mental health are listed on pages 123 - 125 of the main report.
Older People
• AccordingtotheOfficeforNationalStatistics,thepopulationofWestWaleshasa higher proportion of older people than the Welsh average, and that already high proportion is predicted to increase significantly in the coming years, as average life expectancy in the region follows the national upwards trend.
• The change in the profile of the population will undoubtedly have an impact on health, as older people are statistically more likely to have a life limiting health condition (Office for National Statistics, 2011) These changes will significantly impact on the health and social care services provided, as demand for hospital and community services by those aged 75 and over is in general more than three times that from those aged between 30 and 40 (Parliamentary Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change, 2013).
• A number of ‘accelerating factors’ add to the challenge of providing effective services to older people in West Wales, from pockets of significant deprivation to
West Wales Population Assessment March 2017 Executive Summary