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<p>The Government recognises the findings in the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ report
that older people are less likely to seek mental health treatment and are therefore
under-represented in mental health services and do not access them as readily as people
who are under 65 years of age.</p><p> </p><p>As part of Improving Access to Psychological
Therapies (IAPT), NHS England introduced financial incentives through the Mental Health
Premium in 2017-18 and 2018-19, to ensure clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) improve
access and outcomes for under-represented groups, particularly older people. The Mental
Health Premium Guidance is available at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/annx-b-quality-premium-april-18.pdf"
target="_blank">https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/annx-b-quality-premium-april-18.pdf</a></p><p>
</p><p>Also in June 2018, NHS England, with support from the National Collaborating
Centre for Mental Health, published its Improving Access to Psychological Therapies
Manual, which includes a section dedicated to improving and adapting IAPT services
for older people. This manual aims to help commissioners, managers and clinicians
improve and expand their local IAPT services. The manual is available at the following
link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/the-iapt-manual.pdf"
target="_blank">https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/the-iapt-manual.pdf</a></p><p>
</p><p>Since April 2018 all CCGs have been expected to expand IAPT by commissioning
services that are integrated into physical healthcare pathways. These services are
designed to support people with combined physical health long term conditions (LTCs)
and depression and anxiety disorders. We anticipate this expansion will further increase
access for older people, who are more likely than working age people to live with
one or more LTCs.</p>
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