Tele-psychiatry and Longitudinal Data

Summary

A request was made for longitudinal data on the uptake and efficacy of Kooth and Quell tele-psychiatry services during the pandemic, but the authority only provided general mental health referral statistics for 2020 as specific service data was not held.

Key Facts

• The request was made on 2021-01-08 for data on Kooth and Quell services.
• The Department of Health and Social Care responded on 2021-02-15 stating some information was sent but not all was held.
• The response provided referral data for the period 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2020 instead of specific tele-psychiatry metrics.
• Total mental health referrals for 2020 were 7,295 across various teams including ACUTE, CAMHS, and CMHSA.
• Demographic breakdowns for age, gender, and ethnicity were provided for the 2020 referral data.

Data Disclosed

• 7295
• 2275
• 591
• 1900
• 1132
• 336
• 1061
• 3816
• 3463
• 16
• 01/01/2020
• 31/12/2020
• 2021-01-08
• 2021-02-15
• 1623997

Original Request

I wish to obtain longitudinal data regarding the Isle of Man Government's provision, through the Public Health Department, regarding their Tele-psychiatry uptake and planning. These services, Kooth and Quell, were published through the Public Health Department on the 5th December 2020 in assistance for young-people and adults respectively; these are co-ordinated for low-level anxiety, depression and stress. This is in regards to a BSc Public Health Degree Course Dissertation topic assessing the Mental Health implications of Educational provision implemented during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. I appreciate the Department are extremely busy, though, if time permits I would value raw data regarding uptake and which population groups (age, gender, ethnicity, severity, SES) have (1) Engaged (2) Maintained Contact (3) data on efficacy. Referral data would also be appreciated. No personal data is required nor appropriate through GDPR and Confidentiality. Results of the study will be published through University College Isle of Man and an ethics board has cleared the research prior to my making contact with you. Clarification sought: In order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for we need some further information from you. In particular, regarding Tele-psychiatry uptake and planning can you tell us what you mean by this and specifically what are you looking for? The Department is mindful that the results of this study will be published; therefore the Department will endeavour to provide accurate up to date information to you. Clarification received: I refer to the Online Counselling services published on the 5th December 2020 called Kooth and Quell. I would like to know: 1) How many people used these services leading up to and throughout the second 'stay at home' order 7th January - 1st February 2021. 2) If people found these services helpful and efficacious. 3) Demographic details of who was more likely to use the services and for what reason. 4) The number of referrals made to/within DHSC for Mental Health from 1st January 2020 - 1st February 2021 compared to previous-pandemic levels. 5) A comparison to data from DHSC Psychological Services and DHSC Adult Mental Health teams. All, or indeed any, of the data you have on the above mentioned areas will provide the information to plan and better understand the future provision of these services.

Data Tables (5)

Full Response Text

Referrals for the period 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2020

MHS Team Number of Referrals ACUTE 2275 CAMHS 591 CMHSA 1900 CWS 1132 DAT 336 OPMHS 1061 Grand Total 7295

Age Number of Referrals 17 & Under 698 18-25 1361 26-35 1356 36-45 1148 46-55 850 56-65 662 66-75 385 76-85 507 86-95 311 96+ 17 Grand Total 7295

Gender Number of Referrals Female 3816 Male 3463 X 16 Grand Total 7295

Ethnic Origin Number of Referrals Any Other Group 13 Asian or Asian British - Any other background 2 Asian or Asian British - British 1 Asian or Asian British - Indian 4 Asian or Asian British - Pakistani 2 Black or Black British - Caribbean 1 Mixed - Any other mixed background 8 Mixed - Asian and Chinese 1 Mixed - Manx 7 Mixed - Other/Unspecified 6 Mixed - White & Asian 8 Mixed - White & Black Caribbean 1 Not Known by Referrer 250 Not Stated (Client Refused) 61 Not Stated (Not Requested) 2776 Other Ethnic Groups - Any Other Group 3 Other Ethnic Groups - Chinese 4 Other Ethnic Groups - Filipino 10 White - All Republics of former USSR 1 White - Any other background 24 White - British 1127 White - Cornish 1 White - Cypriot (part not stated) 3 White - English 500 White - Irish 45 White - Italian 10 White - Manx 1415 White - Mixed White 8 White - Northern Irish 12 White - Other European 53 White - Other/Unspecified 857 White - Polish 2 White - Scottish 56 White - Turkish Cypriot 1 White - Welsh 22 Grand Total 7295

Referral Reasons Number of Referrals Adult Protection 2 Advice/Information 108 Agoraphobia 3 Anxiety 286 Appropriate Adult 2 Assessment 592 Assessment & Treatment of Drug & Alcohol Problems 290 Assessment (H4L) 136 At Risk/Concern – Child 1 At Risk/Concern – Drug/Alcohol 1 Crisis Intervention Assessment 189 Depression 380 Drug Testing 1 Eating Disorder 2 Family Problems 2 Home Treatment Assessment 11 Housing/Homeless Problems 1 Information Received 38 Learning Disabilities 2 MARM Meeting Request 10 Mental Health 4373 Mental Health Act 7 Mental Health Act Assessment 3 Missing Person 3 OCD 14 Other 89 Panic Disorder 14 Perinatal 6 Personality Disorder 1 Physical Illness/Disability 1 Prolonged Grief 1 PTSD 12 Request for Information 3 Section 132 Assessment 8 Social Phobia 1 Stress 17 Therapeutic Approach 38 Trauma 36 No referral reason specified 611 Grand Total 7295

Interim Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA

Tel: (01624) 642621 Email: dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 1623997 15th February 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 8th January 2021 and states:

“I wish to obtain longitudinal data regarding the Isle of Man Government's provision, through the Public Health Department, regarding their Tele- psychiatry uptake and planning. These services, Kooth and Quell, were published through the Public Health Department on the 5th December 2020 in assistance for young-people and adults respectively; these are co- ordinated for low-level anxiety, depression and stress. This is in regards to a BSc Public Health Degree Course Dissertation topic assessing the Mental Health implications of Educational provision implemented during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. I appreciate the Department are extremely busy, though, if time permits I would value raw data regarding uptake and which population groups (age, gender, ethnicity, severity, SES) have (1) Engaged (2) Maintained Contact (3) data on efficacy. Referral data would also be appreciated. No personal data is required nor appropriate through GDPR and Confidentiality. Results of the study will be published through University College Isle of Man and an ethics board has cleared the research prior to my making contact with you Clarification sought: In order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for we need some further information from you. In particular, regarding Tele- psychiatry uptake and planning can you tell us what you mean by this and specifically what are you looking for?

Clarification received: Thank you for getting back to me. I refer to the Online Counselling services published on the 5th December 2020 called Kooth and Quell. I would like to know: 1) How many people used these services leading up to and throughout the second ‘stay at home’ order 7th January - 1st February 2021. 2) If people found these services helpful and efficacious. 3) Demographic details of who was more likely to use the services and for what reason. 4) The number of referrals made to/within DHSC for Mental Health from 1st January 2020 - 1st February 2021 compared to previous-pandemic levels. 5) A comparison to data from DHSC Psychological Services and DHSC Adult Mental Health teams. All, or indeed any, of the data you have on the above mentioned areas will provide the information to plan and better understand the future provision of these services.” Our response: 1) How many people used these services leading up to and throughout the second ‘stay at home’ order 7th January - 1st February 2021. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. However these figures will be available after April 2021 when Kooth & Qwell send the next quarterly figures to the Department. 2) If people found these services helpful and efficacious. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. The feedback the Department holds is only from the last quarter up to 31st December 2020.

Please find attached the feedback document. Please note this is for adults only and does not state how many people actually responded. Data from the two lockdowns can be provided after April 2021. To provide advice and assistance you may find the following two links helpful https://www.kooth.com/ and https://www.qwell.io/ 3) Demographic details of who was more likely to use the services and for what reason. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. The Department does not have the figures covering this year available at this time; however the figures for referrals from 1st January 2020 to the 31st December 2020 are available. Please see the attached document listing the 7,295 referrals and the demographic details. 4) The number of referrals made to/within DHSC for Mental Health from 1st January 2020 - 1st February 2021 compared to previous-pandemic levels. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. The total number of referrals for the Mental Health Services Team from the 1st January 2020 to the 31st December 2020 was 7,295 Figures for the period 1st January 2021 to 31st March 2021 will be available after April 2021 when Kooth & Qwell send the next quarterly figures to the Department. 5) A comparison to data from DHSC Psychological Services and DHSC Adult Mental Health teams. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. However these figures will be available once the Department receives the Kooth & Qwell report after April 2021.

Please quote the reference number 1623997 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely