Kamal Patel (Public Health Speciality Registrar) was present for this item and referred to the report in the agenda pack.  It was reported that: 

·         Mental health and wellbeing worsened at the start of the pandemic in Spring 2020;

·         This was followed by a recovery in the Summer 2020 as lockdown eased but not to pre-pandemic baselines;

·         A further decline in mental health in the Winter 2020/21;

·         There were no changes in rates of self-harm or suicide.

·         Groups that were disproportionately affected:

·         Young adults and females

·         Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic men;

·         Adults living with children, in particular lone mothers;

·         Adults with pre-existing mental and physical health conditions;

·         Older adults and who were recommended to shield;

·         Older adults with multi-comorbidities;

·         Adults who were socially isolated;

·         Adults with low household income or relative socio-economic position;

·         Adults who experienced loss of income, especially the self-employed;

·         Adults with financial worries;

·         Carers (formal and informal) and frontline health and care staff.

·           The changes in mental so far may not be the full extent because –

·         It is too early to see some of the impacts;

·         The on-going challenge of the pandemic;

·         The pandemic may have environmental, cultural and socio-economic impacts which in turn would continue to impact mental health.

·           8.5 million adults in England would need new or additional mental health support with the majority would be people who have existing mental health conditions;

·           In Plymouth these figures equate to almost 27,000 of the estimated 39,000 people with common mental health disorders requiring additional support and over 17,000 from the general population requiring new support for moderate-severe depression or anxiety.

·           Asking partners to sign up the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health:

·         The concordat provides a cross-sector focus on public mental health approaches;

·         Acknowledges the important role of people with lived experience of mental health problems;

·         Sets clear direction to the local health and social care system that all should work towards a tangible increase in the promotion of mental health and wellbeing and the prevention of mental ill health;

·         The public health team to continue to provide system leadership, working within the existing multi-agency groups and networks within the city to co-develop a strategy and action plan for increasing work to promote mental health and wellbeing and prevent mental ill health across the system.

Questions from the Board related to:

·         Green subscribing;

·         Long Covid;

·         Community cohesion and how we can support that and encourage funding;

·         Reaching into schools and the children’s agenda.

It was agreed that:

1.            The Health and Wellbeing Board endorse this mental health needs assessment.

2.            The Health and Wellbeing Board and its constituent members sign the Prevention Concordat consensus statement to set a clear direction to the local health and social care system that all should work towards a tangible increase in the promotion of mental health and wellbeing and the prevention of mental ill health.

3.            The Health and Wellbeing Board confirm their support for the Public Health team to continue to provide system leadership for the promotion of mental health and wellbeing and the prevention of mental illness.

4.            The Health and Wellbeing Board confirm that the existing multi-agency groups and networks should be the basis for taking forward the Prevention Concordat.

5.            The Health and Wellbeing Board ask that Public Health oversee the development of a local strategy and action plan for increasing work to promote mental health and wellbeing and prevent mental illness across the system, building on the good work already in place.

6.            The Health and Wellbeing Board receive an update on progress in 12 months’ time.