New analysis of the latest NHS statistics by Clerkenwell Health show that well over one in ten mental health professional jobs in the NHS are currently unfilled.

There is also significant regional disparity and the North West and Midlands are faring worse, with 17.5% and 14.9% respectively of mental health jobs vacant. This compares to an overall NHS medical vacancy rate of 5.8%.

The figures come alongside a sharp increase in the number of people seeking contact with NHS mental health services every month - rising consistently from 1.3 million people a month in June 2020 to 1.75 million people a month by March 2023. Meanwhile an extra 3,000 people every month are also occupying a bed in a mental health hospital, when compared to January 2021.

The new analysis comes from Clerkenwell Health who are working with drug manufacturers to explore innovative treatments for conditions with which the NHS is struggling to cope including treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD and alcohol use disorder, as well as conditions affecting the central nervous system.
 
The latest NHS data also shows a sharp rise in the number of antidepressants prescribed. Between October to December 2022 (the latest figures available), 22 million antidepressants were prescribed to an estimated 6.6 million identified patients. This compares to 15 million prescriptions in Q1 of 2015 and 19.6 million in October to December 2020.

Clerkenwell Health is developing trials to test the use of psychedelics such as psilocybin to treat a range of mental health conditions and are actively recruiting participants.