Impact of our support Avoided state costs wheelchair. A Red Cross volunteer Preventing Mr Bains’ depression have needed a two-year course of £7,310 – visited Mr Bains weekly for three worsening saved the state money anti-depressants at a cost of £292. months and provided him with in several ways: £10,430 emotional support, as well as practical help like finding computer We prevented Mr Bains from classes at his local library, which We kept Mr Bains out of hospital needing cognitive behavioural £3,120 helped him continue his interest in or care therapy (CBT) Outcome bird watching. Prevented further Worsening depression can increase Given the advanced stage of psychological Our volunteer referred Mr Bains to the likelihood of a suicide attempt. Mr Bains’ condition and his suicidal support (mid-term) other support services, including the It can also undermine people’s thoughts, it is probable that he Assumption MS Society which provided a home willingness and ability to provide for would have required CBT or another One session of visitor, and the NHS expert patient counselling per their own basic needs, such as food, therapeutic treatment. The cost of week for one year programme to help him learn more clothing and heating. If Mr Bains’ a CBT session is £1065. If Mr Bains about how to manage his condition. depression worsened, he would had needed one session a week for We also gave Mr Bains information have had to be admitted to hospital 24 weeks, it would have cost the about community transport services, and then provided with social care state £2,544. local buses with wheelchair access support in his home. He might have and information on accessible days even risked or damaged his health, out locally. for example through self-harm, We prevented Mr Bains from Mr Bains was invited to our local which would have meant longer- needing counselling services £2,544 £7,310 service user forum and offered help term support in the form of sheltered While Mr Bains would already have with transport to it. Despite his initial housing, day, residential or nursing received support in the form of Outcome reluctance to attend, Mr Bains found home care. Prevented talking social services home care and CBT, therapy (short-term) the opportunity to meet other service One hospital inpatient admission he may also have been referred for Assumption users, socialise with them, and hear (for an elderly individual with mental further counselling due to his MS One CBT session their stories hugely beneficial. 1 per week for almost Mr Bains health problems) costs on average and associated difficulties. Mean six months He told us: £293 per day and it is likely he costs of public psychotherapy would have required a minimum of counselling services are £60 per “Meeting those people a two-day stay. It is also likely that session6. If Mr Bains had needed Mr Bains would have then needed one session a week for a year, it Outcome who were so depressed social services support, provided by would have cost the state £3,120. Prevented and had no-one made me prescription of the local authority. The average cost medication realise just how lucky of delivering home care to a service Assumption user with mental health problems Overall, the support we £292 Average cost of a Mr Bains is 68 years old and lives alone in a small I was to have friends 2 course of anti- and family. It made me is £162 per week . We assume this delivered to Mr Bains depressants over town in a rural area. He is divorced and has two support would have been required represents total avoided £4,474 two years realise I must make the for 24 weeks at a cost of £3,8883. costs to the state of Outcome sons, one of whom lives nearby. Prevented most of my time, and between £10,310 and worsening of Mr Having worked as a painter and decorator for how silly I was to feel £10,729. Bains’ depression We prevented Mr Bains from Assumption many years, he was well known in the town so embarrassed.” needing anti-depressants Hospital admission and subsequent and led an active social life including enjoying a Overcoming his fear and The average cost to the NHS of social care support administering anti-depressants for 24 weeks. number of hobbies from bird watching to whist. embarrassment of being seen in a across the UK is £1464 per patient, wheelchair, Mr Bains went out with his per annum. Due to the severity of his son shortly after the forum and bought condition, Mr Bains would probably Sadly, Mr Bains was diagnosed with on wheels for him. However, he was an electric scooter which enabled multiple sclerosis which affects his referred to the British Red Cross him to get around town again and mobility and means that while he after becoming very depressed and reconnect with the community. is able to walk carefully around his withdrawn, and choosing not to Our support helped Mr Bains own home with a walking frame, he leave his house, even though he through this very difficult time of 1. PSSRU (2011), Unit costs of health and social care 2011, The University of Kent publications. needs a wheelchair to go outside. had the opportunity. change, grief and acceptance of his 2. Ibid. illness, back to a full and fulfilling life. 3. This would be until the end of Mr Bains’ cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) course (24 weeks). Initially, Mr Bains was supported by He told us he felt suicidal and 4. McCrone et al (2008), Paying the price: The cost of mental health care in England to 2026, a social worker who arranged for couldn’t bear the thought of people The King’s Fund publications and Thomas and Morris (2003) “Cost of depression among adults in England in 2000”: The British Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 183. Unit costs range from £41.10 to £250.60. carers to visit and organised meals around the town seeing him in a 5. PSSRU (2011). 6. Ibid. Projected savings Potential additional savings 4 5