The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) community mental health survey 2025, of 12,319 people aged 16 and over, highlights how community mental health care is struggling to meet the needs of everyone currently accessing it.

The survey reveals:

• 31% of respondents have been waiting three months or more for an appointment
• Half of respondents who contacted crisis services for children and young people (51%) didn't get the help they needed
• More people are reporting being treated with care and compassion (67%, up from 65% in 2023 and 2024).

In addition, the survey shows that people are having more positive experiences, with more people saying they were treated with respect and dignity, that they were supported to make decisions about their care and that they were listened to. More than half of people accessing mental health services for older people (54%) rated their experiences of community mental health care as 9 or 10 out of 10, an improvement on the previous two years.

However, sections of society are having poorer experiences. People aged 16-35, disabled people and autistic people had worse experiences than average in being treated with care and compassion, getting the help they needed, feeling listened to, getting enough time to discuss their needs, and their overall experience.

Meanwhile, 38% of people reported receiving no support for their physical health, even though they would have liked this, and many people accessing children and young people's mental health services (62%) received no help or support in joining a group, an increase from 55% in 2023 and 2024.

Nearly half of people who contacted crisis care (45%) said their family received no support or information, despite family involvement being a key issue raised in patient safety reviews.

Interim chief inspector of mental health for the CQC, Chris Dzikiti, 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.'

Olli Potter, policy and public affairs manager at Picker, said: ‘Complaints about NHS waiting times are a common theme across services. The recent British Social Attitudes Survey showed that improving waiting times for GP appointments, at A&E, and for planned operations are the public's top priorities – while waits for mental health services are lower down the list. This survey, however, shows how important they are and the impact that they have on people who need support. Just as in other physical health settings, people with mental health concerns need support to ‘wait well', so it is positive to see an increase in service users reporting being offered support while waiting for care. 

‘The results highlight significant opportunities to improve person-centred care - including by ensuring people are genuinely involved, can participate in shared decision-making, and receive holistic support that recognises the wider factors shaping their wellbeing.'