Mental illness : key area handbook / Department of Health.

  • Great Britain. Department of Health.
Date:
1994
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Mental illness : key area handbook / Department of Health. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3.1 3.2 SKETCHING THE LOCAL PICTURE Action summary DHAs (with GPFHs), FHSAs and Directors of SSDs B Develop a local population profile and build up a composite picture of Organise information on suicide incidence. Identify local initiatives and opportunities and profile current initiatives and service provision and assess the extent to which needs are being met. Compare the suicide rates of the resident population with those of neighbouring districts, and the national rate. Providers fi Use brief standardised assessment procedures of symptom state, social disability and quality of life (HoNOS scales — see Appendix 11.3). Encourage staff to co-operate with the Confidential Inquiry into Homicides and Suicides by Mentally Ill People. Sketching the local picture In order to meet the targets set out in the Health of the Nation, purchasers will need to develop a more detailed and coherent picture of the needs of people with mental illness locally, of local initiatives aimed at promoting mental health, and of the range of services available. Developing a population profile The relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and use of services, particularly admission rate, is well established. Purchasing authorities will therefore want to establish a profile of the local population. Such a profile will facilitate effective targeting of preventive activity at known high risk areas and groups. Possible relevant indicators include: @ pockets of high unemployment, particularly amongst young men @ high rates of alcohol consumption, and drug abuse =p} MENTALILLNESS