Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living (Councillor Mary Lea) and Governing Body Member, NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (Dr Ted Turner), which concerned public mental health and wellbeing. The report built upon an update provided to the meeting of the Board in March 2015 and it included the developing work programme relating to building mental wellbeing and emotional resilience, which set out objectives, actions and timescales. Chris Nield, Consultant in Public Health introduced the report.

Gregor Henderson, National Lead, Wellbeing and Mental Health, Public Health England, had been invited to attend the Board meeting and he addressed the Board on the subject of mental and emotional health and wellbeing.  He said there was an ambition to consider mental health and wellbeing in all things and take a broad approach. He was impressed at the evidence of the approach being taken in Sheffield and from hearing people’s stories. Mental health and emotional wellbeing was about how people feel and how they behave and was not something which should be marginalised. We needed to ask how the conditions could be created which helped to deal with someone’s distress. Important issues were the prevention of mental illness, early intervention and supporting and sustaining a person’s recovery.

Mental illness carried with it large social and economic costs and people with mental illness were likely to die 15-25 years earlier than other people. Integrated and embedded approaches worked most effectively and there was a requirement to realign and invest in community approaches so that mental and physical health were considered together. Leadership for mental health was the responsibility not only of the health service but also of organisations including schools, the police, employers and housing providers. Support was necessary in early years and for parents, employers and to reduce social isolation in the elderly. 

Gregor Henderson commented that he was impressed at examples of integration of services in Sheffield, such as in Darnall where there was evidence of debt, emotional distress and domestic abuse services being integrated. The shift to greater levels of community based integrated support required integrated investment supported by the use of data intelligence and multi-modal evidence.

Members of the Board made comments on the subject of mental health and emotional wellbeing, as summarised below:-

There had been an attempt to shift resources towards early intervention and support in children’s services and Sheffield had the lowest number of children in care. Mental health affected families, individuals and communities and it was a matter that was difficult to progress, although this Board was attempting to do so, including working with the Universities to make sure there was sufficient relevant evidence.

Upstream investment presented a change of approach and evaluation would be built into to processes. The City needed to make investments in the early stages where possible to save costs later on. However, it was noted that as a result of a decision by central government, an in-year cut of £2 million was to be made to the public health budget. There was evidence in Sheffield that it was right to have a diverse range of investments.

The message for the promotion of good emotional wellbeing ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ should be shared as appropriate.

Resolved: That the Board:

1.    Agrees that this approach presents an opportunity to realise significant change and improvement and that the leadership of this Board and the organisations represented on the Board is key;

2.    Supports this preventative upstream approach, both at a strategic and operational level;

3.    Notes the progress outlined in the report and the appended action plan now submitted; and

4.    Agrees to promote the following narrative:

“Improved mental wellbeing is associated with better physical and mental health, reduced inequalities, improved social relationships and healthier lifestyles. It can help people achieve their potential, realise ambitions, cope with adversity, work productively and contribute to their community and society. Its strategic significance can be better understood.”