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Less than two thirds of further education colleges have special services for people with a mental health problem, it has been revealed, writes Katie Leason.

Of 153 further education colleges, just 93 said they had targeted provision for people diagnosed with a mental health problem while 36 out of 53 local education authorities did so.

Providers tended to be less aware of the national service framework for mental health than the Disability Discrimination Act. Just over four in 10 further education colleges and a third of local education authorities said they were aware of the NSF, standard one of which addresses mental health promotion.

The majority of both further education colleges and local education authorities said that learning services for adults diagnosed with a mental health problem could be made more effective by closer partnership working with other agencies.

Providers said they would like to work more closely with social services, mental health services, and primary care trusts in the report by the National Institute of Mental Health in England and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.

'Access to Adult Education for People Diagnosed with Mental Health Problems'