Mental Health Observatory
The Mental Health Observatory
The Mental Health Observatory exists to collate and make available data about mental health care in England, collected routinely or through special surveys, by health and social services. It is based within the NHS North East Regional Public Health Observatory and funded partly by the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP). It provides information and advice to commissioners, mental health care providers and national inspection and audit bodies. It also provides advice and expertise to other English Public Health Observatories in relation to mental health topics.
Activities
- Maintaining an inventory of mental health data sources;
- Where helpful, acquiring data and disseminating it in suitable formats;
- Reporting on important public mental health issues;
- Providing advice and support on mental health data, information and intelligence; and
- Assisting in research.
Supporting the National Service Framework (NSF)
The government’s National Service Framework for Mental Health was published in September 1999. This focused on the needs of working age adults. Subsequent Frameworks for children and older people covered mental health issues for these age groups. The Mental Health NSF set out seven service standards that would be met; and also identified gaps in the availability of useful information for achieving and assessing progress towards these goals. Good quality information is paramount in providing good services: It is used to define problems; identify the solutions; measure results and ultimately redefine the problem. The Mental Health Observatory is an important component in the knowledge management required to feed this cycle.
Library
The Mental Health Observatory works closely with the National Library for Public Health. This aims to provide access to a variety of policy and research publications relevant to the subject of mental health.
Mental Health Observatory Resources
These includes data sources such as the Regional Mental Health Workbook, and the Adult Mental Health Mapping; NEPHO/MHO publications, external research, and relevant government policy; and miscellaneous items such as PowerPoint presentations and event handouts. Please choose from the drop down list below.
- Mental Health Workbook: Our compendium of information about mental health needs, resources, staff and facilities for local areas.
Mental Health Briefs
The Mental Health Briefs are web based publications designed to provide information regarding a single current ‘hot topic’ in mental health. Most comprise a short explanatory paper and an accompanying spreadsheet providing detailed data.
