CQC Survey Finds Ongoing Challenges in Community Mental Health Care

Mental Health Care Warning: Are Patients Being Let Down?

Community mental health care is struggling to meet people’s needs, according to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) latest survey published on Tuesday 31st March 2026.

The Community Mental Health Survey 2025 gathered responses from 12,319 people aged 16 and over, all of whom had received treatment for a mental health condition between 1st April and 31st May 2025.

While some improvements have been reported, the findings highlight ongoing concerns around access to care, waiting times and support for those in crisis.

Long waits and gaps in support

The survey found that 1 in 3 people (31%) are waiting three months or more for an appointment, showing continued pressure on services.

Support during crises also appears to be inconsistent. Among respondents who contacted crisis services for children and young people, 51% said they did not get the help they needed.

There were also concerns about wider support. Nearly 2 in 5 people (38%) said they received no support for their physical health, even though they wanted it. In addition, 62% of those using children and young people’s services said they received no help or support in joining a group, an increase compared to previous years.

Family involvement was another area highlighted, with 45% of people who contacted crisis care saying their family received no support or information.

Some signs of improvement

Despite these challenges, the survey does show some positive trends.

More people reported being treated with care and compassion, rising to 67%, up from 65% in both 2023 and 2024. There were also improvements in people feeling respected, listened to, and supported in making decisions about their care.

Among older people accessing mental health services, 54% rated their experience as 9 or 10 out of 10, an improvement on the previous two years.

Unequal experiences across groups

The survey found that some groups continue to have poorer experiences than others.

People aged 16 to 35, disabled people and autistic people reported worse experiences than average across several areas. These included being treated with care and compassion, getting the help they needed, feeling listened to, and having enough time to discuss their needs.

Workforce pressures and growing demand

Chris Dzikiti, Interim Chief Inspector of Mental Health at the Care Quality Commission, said:

“It’s heartening that people are reporting better experiences, with more positive interactions with staff. However, people are still facing barriers to appropriate care and community mental health care is struggling to support those in crisis. We are unfortunately far from the goal in the NHS 10-year plan of playing a preventive role.

“A robust, consistent workforce is essential to ensure staff are not burnt-out and feel able to provide compassionate, personalised care. Demand for mental health support is increasing but concerningly the ratio of mental health nurses to patients is getting worse.

“If staff have the capacity and time to support the whole person, understanding their financial, physical, and social, as well as mental health needs and can offer a joined-up approach to healthcare, we can prevent crises and help people live happier fuller lives.

“At CQC, we have started a comprehensive review of adult community mental health services to better understand where quality of care, patient and public safety, and staff experience is not up to standard.”

Call for improvements

While more people are reporting positive interactions with staff, the findings show that action is still needed.

The survey points to the need to reduce long waiting lists, address inconsistencies in care, and better support the wider factors that affect mental health, including physical health, finances and social circumstances.

The full survey results can be viewed on the CQC website: https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/surveys/community-mental-health-survey