The deputy director of operations (NHS Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group) presented an update on the mental health priority contained within the health and wellbeing strategy. It was noted that this was a positive report as developments in mental health care provision had started to take effect. The update noted the following points:

·         a feature of the strategy was to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, and there had been a groundswell of talking within communities, and this could be developed through the strong young minds project.

·         Work was progressing with increasing access to psychological therapies, supported by the crisis care concordat, the children and young people’s plan and these were extending to enhance adult services.  A number of agencies contributed to these and a multi-disciplinary and co-ordinated approach to early intervention was progressing

·         referrals into services were being seen within 4 weeks for adults and 2 weeks for children and dementia services and the child and adolescent mental health services were regarded highly within the West Midlands

·         The focus was now on promoting early intervention and prevention. Communities had contributed to development of this and the message could be reinforced through organisations such as Carers’ Support, Healthwatch and the Ross project, a community-led focus on mental health support 

·         with regard to provision of a formal place of safety, a capital build was to commence in March 2017 at the Stonebow Unit. This would support crisis care management and Mental Health Act section 136 assessments. This was a positive step as it meant that people were no longer being taken to a police cell

·         multi-agency training on mental health awareness was ongoing

·         a mental health toolkit was developed and there was awareness raising through young peoples’ ambassadors. The board was reminded this it was children’s mental health week and the young peoples’ ambassadors were working on a blog and using the online community to promote mental health awareness

·         with regard to improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT), there was under-representation for mild and moderate depression and a workplace project was to commence in 2018

·         a joint pathway was being developed for working with emotional and behavioural development issues around attachment and bonding and there would be further work to inform this

·         there were to be further developments on mental health partnerships, workforce development and awareness raising.  It was noted that suicide prevention work would commence this spring and also a care pathway for physical and mental health care.

·         prevention and mental health promotion remained a cornerstone

In response to the update, the following points were noted:

·         It would be beneficial to produce a briefing note to provide reassurance on positive developments in mental health work. There was a press campaign for young peoples’ mental health week, and it was noted that a range of media was required to help to promote mental health work.  The briefing note would be a useful medium in which to define the common mental health issues that affected the 1 in 4 people statistically

·         It was noted that the place of safety under development at the Stonebow Unit was located in order to be close to the accident and emergency department. This meant that it was also close to the railway, however, and in mitigating this suicide risk, there had been discussions with transport police. 

·         Healthwatch focused on mental health in a question time event held last year. This was a multi-agency panel and the good partnership working on mental health was noted. 

·         With regard to schools, there were a number of strands including a network for special educational needs co-ordinators and CAMHS had started a helpline aimed at schools to talk through an issue or concern on a child

·         there was also a task and finish group in progress which was focusing on children and young people, and  a range of support and resources for schools were being developed which included a self-harm policy, mental health first aid training and the MindEd programme, which would provide a menu of options for schools to choose

·         it was difficult to engage people in discussions on mental health and suicide prevention, and it was noted that input from the CCG could support this

RESOLVED

That:

(a)  the report be noted; and

(b)  action points, as set out below, be addressed:

-       the aim of the health and wellbeing strategy to reduce stigma associated with mental health be developed through the strong young minds project

-       Carers’ Support, Healthwatch and the Ross project (a community-led focus on mental health support) to support the promotion of early intervention and prevention 

-       CCG to produce a briefing note for councillors to provide reassurance on positive developments in mental health work and to define the common mental health issues that affect the 1 in 4 people statistically