Over 60s mental health survey user testing - People Bank involvement

What our user testers said:

How we responded:

1. The answer options to say whether you are under or over 60, and whether you live in East Sussex or not, are confusing. They would benefit from being separated out more into individual statements.

1. The answer options have been amended to:

• I am aged 60 or older and live in East Sussex

• I am under 60 years old and live in East Sussex

There is no longer an option to click ‘I do not live in East Sussex’, to discourage those who do not fit into the above options taking part.

2. When asking if someone has accessed support and how long ago that was, there should be an option to say you have but can’t remember when.

2. Answer option ‘Yes – but can’t remember when this was’ has been added to the question.

3. When asking if people think it’s easy or difficult to access support, it would be better to have a 5-point scale for answer options instead of 3.

3. This question has been amended to include 5 answer options ranging from ‘Very easy’ to ‘Very difficult’, as well as a sixth option for ‘Don’t know’.

4. Would the question asking about people’s experience benefit from being split to ask about first accessing services for themselves, then someone else.

4. This question has remained the same, as the distinction between access for yourself or someone else is not essential for this work.

5. The answer option ‘Difficulties with food, eating and/or weight’ has lots of elements.

5. This option will remain the same, as distinguishing the separate elements is not something we will do when analysing the results.

6. The following options need adding to the question that asks about emotional wellbeing difficulties people have experience of:

• Bereavement or grief

• Use the term self-harm instead of hurting yourself

• False beliefs

6. These options have been added or incorporated into existing answer options.

7. When asking where people reached out to for help, could the following be included:

• Social worker

• Workplace support, e.g., Human Resources or mental health first aider

• I called a helpline

7. This question is focused on who people proactively reached out to. Social workers are more likely to become aware of the need for support and actively offer this. The ‘helpline’ option has not been added as this is covered in the following question. We have added the option ‘I contacted a work-based service (e.g., mental health first aider; occupational health).

8. Add ‘Age UK’ or ‘Silver Line’ to the list of services that people might have accessed.

8. Option ‘Age UK – Silver Line phone line’ has been added to list.  

9. The questions asking about finding a service for support and getting the support from that service feel too similar. Some people might not understand the difference.

9. The questions have been amended. The first asks how easy or difficult it was to find a service that could provide support. The next asks ‘Once you found a service, how easy was it to get the advice and support you needed?’.

10. Question asking why someone did not reach out for support needs options such as ‘I don’t trust other support services’, or ‘I prefer to keep myself to myself’.

10. Answer options added:

• ‘There were difficulties in taking the first step’

• ‘I didn’t know where to look for support’

• ‘Lack of trust in other support services’

• ‘Lack of belief that the support would be helpful’

11. One tester asked how the survey would be offered and promoted to people.

11. A full communications plan has been created to support promotion of the survey. It will also be promoted via services such as Healthwatch, East Sussex Seniors’ Association, and Age UK.