In the weeks leading up to the second annual IAPT and eHealth Summit , we’ll be sharing with you a series of guest blogs from our online therapy partners and presenters. Today, we hear from James de Bathe, Commercial Director of Big White Wall on how digital treatment can reduce pressure on IAPT services whilst improving patients’ mental health and wellbeing.
One of the biggest challenges facing mental healthcare in the UK is access and the availability of resources. The NHS IAPT programme is struggling to cope with a sizable increase in demand; 1.1 million new referrals were received by IAPT between 2013 and 2014, an increase of 21% on the number for 2012 and 2013. This high demand and the lack of availability of services results in patients being placed on long waiting lists. Those on longer than average waiting lists often cancel appointments in frustration or simply look to self-manage their conditions without adequate care.
The digital technology that already forms such a large part of our daily lives is key to meeting these challenges and alleviating the pressure on IAPT. In 2016, 87.9% of adults in the UK (45.9 million) are classified a regular internet users, meaning they have used the internet in the past three months. Of the approximate 5 million people who suffer with depression every year, 80% are at the mild to moderate end of the spectrum. In these instances, face-to-face therapy does not need to be the default mode of delivery; digital treatment offers another effective option.
Digital treatment options offer many benefits such as wider reach, reduced waiting times and greater flexibility. With 24/7 access, Big White Wall is an example of one such option that can fit around a patient’s work-life pattern, offering greater control to the individual and stemming the problem of cancelled appointments. Big White Wall’s services, from peer support, to self-management approaches, professionally guided support and LiveTherapy, combine to provide answers to many of the questions surrounding mental healthcare provision today.
Crucially, all the benefits of digital do not need to come at the expense of the quality of care or outcomes being achieved. Big White Wall’s LiveTherapy service has consistently shown recovery rates above the average achieved by IAPT provision (44% according to official NHS statistics). At 58%, they are also above the NHS national target set of 50%.
Recent developments in Big White Wall’s technology and service, alongside our work with iaptus mean that we now have the capability to funnel people through various service levels until they reach the appropriate NHS treatment, both for online and face-to-face services. This is an exciting and innovative development for services seeking a streamlined triage process that offers a clinically effective solution and boosts capacity.
With a professional staff of psychological wellbeing practitioners, CBT therapists and counsellors, as well as ‘Wall Guides’ who receive specific training in online moderation (including mandatory training on information governance, adult and child safeguarding,) and are BABCP registered, Big White Wall’s treatment options are robust in their scope and delivery. Our consultant on digital psychology and Caldicott Guardian are always on hand to provide legitimate assurance and guidance, ensuring that the best standards are adhered to across our provision for the welfare of our members.
As the landscape of mental healthcare in the UK continuously shifts,a digital provider like Big White Wall can credibly and consistently reduce the pressure on existing systems. Improvements and innovations along the way continue to show clear results, which means that our members can be confident in the solutions available as they improve their mental health and wellbeing.
To hear more about how digital tools are being used by services across the country, book a free place at our IAPT and eHealth summit.
About Big White Wall
Big White Wall is a safe online community of individuals experiencing anxiety or depression, who support and help each other by sharing what’s troubling them. The community is guided by trained counsellors who are on hand at all times to moderate and facilitate.
Big White Wall has reached over 40,000 people to date and is commissioned by the NHS, the Ministry of Defence, Help for Heroes, universities and employers to reach thousands more. It was founded in 2007, and now operates in areas across the UK, as well as in the US and New Zealand.
