Agenda item

The Board will receive an update on supporting and promoting mental wellbeing and improving mental health and to consider any initiatives coming forward.

Paul Iggulden, Public Health Consultant, presented the report on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy – Promoting Health Lives – supporting mental wellbeing and improving mental health, a copy of which had been circulated and which appears as Appendix ‘C’ to these minutes in the Minute Book.

Mr Iggulden reported on three themes previously identified by the Board namely supporting our communities, supporting our staff well-being and working to prevent suicides.  He explained that at the request of the Board a workshop was set up to take a stock check of the current position and to consider any additional activities that may be needed to support mental wellbeing. Mr Iggulden highlighted that the report set out key initiatives and recommendations. The Board was advised of the following themes:

• Understanding the landscaping – the workshop had discussed three levels – low level support, second level relating to initial diagnosis and a third professional intervention level.  Mr Iggulden indicated that the focus of work for the Board would be around level one including wellbeing support that can be made available and in particular how we work to build shared understanding across our communities of the signs of good mental wellbeing, recognising when problems were emerging and where to go for help. 
• It’s time to talk – the workshop discussed people’s ability to access offers of help which was often limited by either recognition or reluctance to ask for help or acknowledge that there were issues. Conversations highlighted the continuing existence of stigma around asking for help and that emotional distress was often poorly understood.  Proposals included development of tools to help people recognise when either they need help to boost resilience or see that others may need help. In the statutory sector the view was staff wellbeing was well supported through the pandemic in terms of mental health and wellbeing, but it was less clear about what offers were in place for local business.  It was suggested that the offers of training and support be extended to the wider workforce.  In schools and educational establishments offers were being developed that were available to pupils but support for staff was less clear.  He also highlighted that there was no mention of the offer to people in their homes or communities.  
• Improving joined up working - there was a need to provide information, advice and guidance regarding preventative measures and non-medical support.

Mr Iggulden outlined the detail of each of the recommendations set out in the report.   The Director of Public Health highlighted, in respect of initiative 2, the need to scope the proposal to know exactly what added value a digital offer can provide.  Steve Place, Community Action Network referred to the bounce back fund through the R3 Group to develop a first stop shop including the option of an app in respect of anxiety about losing employment or going out to work.  He highlighted the opportunity to discuss with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and to take a joined-up approach.  The Chairman referred to the role and input from the Council’s economic development team the relevance of small businesses, larger employers and the establishment of a welfare group which was having similar conversations about mental health and wellbeing.  The Chairman highlighted the need for focus and to ensure that there was not a duplication of efforts through existing networks. She encouraged partners to contribute and add value to existing systems and to liaise with Mr Iggulden as appropriate.  The Director of Public Health referred to the work undertaken through mental health is everyone’s business programme in Dorset and that one of the outputs was a community charter to increase the visibility of some of the low-level support.  Eugine Yafele reported that the Charter had been started but was interrupted by the pandemic so there was a need to regroup.  He reported that he was supportive of this work stream and using what already exists to provide a network that connects with communities.

Mr Iggulden advised the Board of the prevention concordat and reported that to be a signatory required agreement of the consensus statement with an action plan addressing the five domains of the framework.  He explained that the concordat provided some access to PHE resources together with support. He referred to the interest from the Dorset Multi-Agency suicide prevention steering group in looking at the concordat.  He highlighted in the longer term a need for project support to progress this approach.  The Chairman confirmed at this stage the proposal was to start the discussion on the concordat.  It was acknowledged that further work was needed, and Mr Iggulden indicated that he would like to channel it through the prevention concordat to provide more structure and visibility to the work.  Richard Jenkinson indicated that during the pandemic there had been a step change in the number of people suffering with their mental health so there has never been a more important time when we need to address this.  The Director of Public Health felt that a significant amount of work had been undertaken as a system for example the multi-agency and local authority suicide prevention plans.  He indicated that this was about additional visibility within a clear framework, and which brings the work entrained to the fore.  Debbie Fleming felt that this was an ideal way of progressing the issue which should be undertaken within a framework but she always asks the meaning of such concordats.  The Chairman indicated that the Board would like a further report but would be happy to adopt the direction of travel. 

RESOLVED that

(a)  Initiative 1- Raising awareness of the landscape of mental wellbeing / mental health and feedback from partners on the ‘light on’ campaign is encouraged (to joanna.quinn@dorsetcc.gov.uk) be supported.

(b)  Initiative 2 - Support for developing an on-line triage ‘proof of concept’ with a view to subsequent development of an App (or similar resource) as part of BCP Smart Cities work be supported at this stage subject to scoping the concept to ensure that it would add value.

(c)  Initiative 3 - Directory of (community) support resources – further work on this to develop the offer and consider how it might be maintained is supported.

(d)  Initiative 4 - The identified funded training opportunities to SMEs be promoted is supported.

(e)  In respect of initiative 5 - Signing up to the national Prevention Concordat - the direction of travel be supported and the concordat agreed in principle subject to a further report being submitted to the Board on the approval of the concordat.

Voting: Agreed