Increase in mental health tribunals in first half of 2018 compared to 2017

The statistics show that there were 900 tribunal hearings held in the first six months of 2017, compared to 977 in 2018 over the same period. This represents an increase of 8.56 per cent.

The biggest increase in hearings per month was in January, with 174 hearings held over the month, compared to 135 in January 2017. The statistics also show that the number of cases revoked at the hearing has increased, from 76 in 2017 to 114 in 2018 for the first six months of the year, which represents a 50 per cent increase.

According to the new figures, there has been a decrease in involuntary admissions from 2017 to 2018.  There were 894 admissions in the first six months of 2017, compared to 882 admissions in 2018, which is a decrease of 1.34 per cent.

Renewal orders for involuntary patients have increased, from 586 in 2017 to 606 in 2018 over this time period.

Meanwhile, the MHC’s 2017 Annual Report has highlighted the provision of “unsafe and substandard” mental health services. The Commission is calling for major transformational changes that are necessary in the provision of mental health care services.

Some of the issues highlighted in the report include inadequate staffing and variable funding in community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services; the fundamental and careless lack of attention to basic issues, such as dirty and dilapidated premises that do not ensure adequate privacy and where there has been a disappointing drop in compliance from already low levels; and the inappropriate admission of children into adult mental health inpatient services.