The Gaps or Difficulties in Service Provision for Patients with Bipolar Affective Disorder

One of the most significant challenges patients with bipolar affective disorder face in service provision is the shortage or lack of specialist support. It is reported that about a million patients diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder in the UK wait for approximately nine years and a half or more to diagnose their condition, after which they must cope with inconsistent and uncoordinated care (Iacobucci, 2022). The NHS should offer enhanced specialist support for patients diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder to manage the current healthcare system’s systemic flaws (Iacobucci, 2022).

Mental health services are also experiencing a significant increase in demand nationwide. The number of referrals to mental health facilities across the UK is rising rapidly each year at a rate that outstrips the nation’s population growth (Goodwin, 2022). In 2021, records of 4.3 million people were referred to specialist mental health professionals and facilities. The number of children and adolescents referred to mental health services is rapidly growing (Goodwin, 2022). The national survey in England in 2021 established that about 17% of young people aged 6-16 were diagnosed with at least one type of mental health illness. However, the rapid growth in the demand for mental health services does not match the resources available to tackle the menace (Goodwin, 2022). With the majority of young people falling victim to mental health, there is a need for the NHS to provide preventive and proactive support at tender ages and help young people as they transition to adulthood.