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Mental Health Voice brings together the experiences of people using mental health services across Kent and Medway, ensuring that lived experience helps shape local decision making. This latest report focuses on feedback gathered from people living in West Kent between April and June 2026, highlighting experiences of mental health support provided through voluntary sector organisations and GP services.
During the quarter, 103 pieces of feedback were collected, including 13 experiences directly relating to mental health care and support. All feedback in this report came from Maidstone residents. Women accounted for 62% of respondents, while people aged 25 to 34 represented the largest age group, making up 61% of those who shared their experiences.
Key findings
Voluntary and community sector services continue to make a positive impact
Feedback relating to mental health support provided by voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations accounted for 31% of all mental health feedback received this quarter. Many respondents spoke positively about the support they received, describing significant improvements in their mental health and wellbeing as a result of engaging with community-based services.
Several people felt that support provided by VCSE organisations was more effective and responsive than other forms of mental health support they had previously accessed. However, concerns were also raised about the affordability of some services, with individuals highlighting the challenges associated with accessing privately funded support.
Concerns about continuity of support within GP services
Mental health support provided through GP services also accounted for 31% of feedback this quarter. While experiences varied, respondents commonly reported concerns relating to continuity of care, communication and access to ongoing support.
Some people described support ending unexpectedly, leaving them uncertain about future appointments, treatment plans or access to medication. Others reported feeling that their concerns were not fully understood or acknowledged during interactions with healthcare professionals.
Feedback suggests that clear communication, consistent support and better continuity of care remain important factors in ensuring that people can access the help they need through primary care services.
A smaller volume of feedback this quarter
The report notes a significant reduction in the volume of mental health feedback received compared with previous quarters following changes to local engagement arrangements. As a result, findings should be considered alongside the limited dataset available during this reporting period.
Supporting improvement through lived experience
Mental Health Voice continues to provide a platform for people to share their experiences of mental health services and support. By bringing together feedback from local communities, these insights help health and care organisations better understand people's needs, identify emerging issues and drive improvements across the mental health system.
Read the full report to explore the findings in more detail and learn how lived experience is helping shape mental health services across West Kent.
