The document summarizes issues with mental health support systems and waiting times in the UK based on two personal accounts. It discusses how the current system is discouraging for those seeking help as waiting lists are long, ranging from months to a year. This delay in access to support and treatment can negatively impact mental health and in severe cases like suicide attempts, risks escalating conditions while patients wait. Both accounts call for improvements to address the need for timely support and treatments beyond brief therapies when serious issues are involved.

1. Project 10

2. Secondary
• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-mental-health-treatment-therapy-waiting-list-
appointment-a9079541.html - Waiting list
• https://www.thecalmzone.net/ - Men’s help
• https://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/gender.aspx - 3:1
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism - Wiki
• https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/abuse/#.XYSKx7YrKi4
• https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/addiction-and-
dependency/#.XYSKy7YrKi4
• https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/depression/#.XYSK0rYrKi4
• https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/medication/#.XYSK7LYrKi4
• https://www.yorkmind.org.uk/how-we-help/young-peoples-service/
• 1 in 6 young people aged 16-24 has symptoms of a common mental disorder such as depression or an
anxiety disorder. (here)
• Half of all mental health problems manifest by the age of 14, with 75% by age 24 (here)

3. Primary
• Alice Morawska - Basically I've been surrounded by different mental health issues for about 5 years from friends and I've seen how
the system works and it's really not great. People who don't want to admit to themselves first let alone a doctor that they need
help with something have to wait months for counselling or treatment (that sometimes doesn't actually have an effect because
the doses they get are so minimal that for those who really need it, it doesn't help in the slightest). It's really discouraging because
being able to take that first step towards getting help is terrifying and these people feel so proud of themselves when they initially
do it but when there’s no response, it feels like there wasn't any point in reaching out. It shouldn't take a year for a mental health
support group to get through their waiting list to someone who attempted suicide. In that situation someone has hit the lowest
point and they get referred to somewhere that’s supposed to help, and they get ignored for a year. What if their mental health just
continued to decline and next time it wasn't just an attempt? I appreciate that York has a lot of these facilities and I'm sure they
work great for the people who got there first and have managed to get their doctors to understand what exact prescription and
dosage works for them, but for everyone else it's atrocious.
• ‘R’ (Support Staff at College) – My first experience of mental health services was when I was first diagnosed with depression,
around 10 years ago. The GP I saw was amazingly supportive and just listened with no judgment and reflected back how I was
feeling. The issue after this is that there was a long waiting list for counselling and the only support available was online/workbook
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), which wasn’t the right thing at the time. I ended up paying privately for counselling as I knew I
needed it right then. The issue for me is that when people are having a mental health problem, they need help right away, and
even a couple of weeks can seem a long time and things can escalate. Also, I think that talking therapies can get to the deeper root
of someone’s issue(s) than brief CBT or a similar treatment, but it is much more expensive so a lot of NHS services offer CBT
instead.

4. Survey Results
I got 21 responses, 16 were aged 16-24
I have direct contact with my target audience.

5. Survey Results
Varied responses, but mostly Spotify
The three “Other” were
“I wouldn’t”
“No”
“Youtube”

6. Survey Results
Presumably, most know where to go based
on the responses.

7. Survey Results
The majority haven’t had good support, but it’s a small
difference.

8. Survey Results
There’s a lot to analyse here. I will
convert some of these statements into
questions

9. Survey Results
Two good questions

10. Accessibility of Software – YouTube, Spotify,
etc.
• I asked 11 people if they use audio streaming software that is
subscription based. 9 of the respondents(?) said yes they do. The
one’s who did said they use Apple Music and Spotify Premium. 2
people said no, but they both watch YouTube. This suggests that my
project is best uploaded to Spotify and YouTube. Spotify and Apple
Music require a monthly subscription fee. This is quite inconvenient
as some listeners may not be able to afford the extra fee every
month. Hence why uploading it on YouTube would be beneficial and
would reach a wider audience.

11. Layout of Software – Spotify

12. Layout of Software – YouTube

13. Personal Issues
• Astley Community High – Autism Support
• CAMHS Cutting Off Support
• 3 Years of Education Missed
• Forces Family, Used to Change, But Get Uncomfortable When In One
Place Too Long, Flip of Usual Autistic Thing
• Special Fixation on WW2 and Reenacting