Agenda item

8.1

Sam Martin and Heather Burns attended the meeting and presented the report.

8.2

Sam Martin informed Committee that priority areas included:

·       children’s and young people emotional wellbeing and mental health, developing mental health support services that link to primary care and community services,

·       improving and expanding early help and prevention services in our communities,

·       improving crisis care services, enabling children, young people and adults who live with mental illness to live happier and independent lives,

·       improving the physical health for children, young people and adults with severe mental illness,

·       improving support to children, young people and adults with eating disorders and to continue to focus on vulnerable groups with specific needs, to include: asylum seekers, rough sleepers, bereavement support, problem gamblers. 

This was not an exhaustive list and there was still some business as usual.  There was still a lot of uncertainty around the long term effects of the pandemic and it was important to increase access to support earlier and closer to home.

8.3

Heather Burns informed Committee that everyone was committed to working together and it was hoped that the differences would be:

·       Better access to early support for children, young people and adults for their emotional health and wellbeing,

·       Primary Care mental health offer will be available across the city,

·       More children, young people and adults receiving appropriate psychological therapies,

·       More vulnerable children receiving CAMHS support,

·       Faster more coordinated responses to children, young people and adults experiencing mental health crisis,

·       More people moving from residential and nursing care into their own homes,

·       More young people and adults in employment,

·       Better physical health,

·       Carers and families, including young carers, reporting a better experience of using services.

There was much to be done, but it was working well across partner organisations.

8.4

The Chair noted that it was good to see that commissioning was looking at physical health, employment and training. 

8.5

Heather Burns noted that practitioners were keen to say that it was ok not to feel ok at the moment.  Psychological first aid was important at present, it was broader than mental health.

8.6

Brian Hughes felt that it was important to see the cannon language breaking down barriers between physical and mental health in all ages.  JCC helped to cut down barriers.

8.7

Leigh Sorsbie welcomed the emphasis on children and early interventions and asked how business as usual was being carried out.  HB explained that additional monies had been put into crisis teams.  There was a national problem in the workforce which will need to be looked at differently.

8.8

Terry Hudsen stated that significant strides had been made which was welcome for both patients and clinicians as there had been increased demand pre Covid which would continue during and after the pandemic.  However, there were still significant waits and people fall between the gaps.  Mental health services did not always integrated between themselves.  HB replied that the concerns were shared and reframing will start to address the problem.

8.9

John Doyle echoed the previous comments and felt that priorities should be campaigning for more funding for mental health and working with universities to develop.

8.10

The Chair noted the need to protect existing resources, but also widen the reach.