Mental Health

Mental health Challenges, inspiring stories and public policy Wednesday 10.05.17 Wednesday SUPPORTED BY theguardian.com/mental-health-challenges 2 The Guardian | Wednesday 10 May 2017 The Guardian | Wednesday 10 May 2017 3 Mental healthcare Local government Inside ental health population gets increasingly older, 05 Only the lonely Mental found its way we reveal the simple solutions that Combating chronic loneliness on to the front are helping ward o depression Getting it all together pages again and loneliness. 0607 The problem with men Male suicide, and tackling demons health last week The UK’s rst inpatient mental with the news health centre designed by The devolution of powers to the regions has seen an unexpected rise in the pro le of mental 09 ‘They’re the experts’ that England service users or “guests” opened A patient-designed mental health centre Solutions international footballer Aaron last month in Pontardawe, health provision. As Mary O’Hara reports, it’s the economic bene ts that are focusing minds 1213 Not so smart? Lennon has been detained under south Wales. Is this a model Social media, bullying and depression the mental health act . The story for the future? And we talk to few months ago if asked to problems illustrates once more that mental a former England rugby union what do Prince Harry, the 1415 Out of the woods ill health can a ect any of us at international about the di culty former England football How working outside cleans minds that a ect any time. that alfa males like him have in captain Rio Ferdinand 1617 Lessons in gender diversity What this supplement shows confronting their demons. and Lady Gaga have in Changing attitudes in the classroom time and again, is that innovation A primary head teacher admits common, most people us all and commitment from that his pupils worry about Brexit would have answered their celebrity 19 A di erent view those working in mental and Trump and tells us what help status. But today mental health is the Aimee Challenor on trans issues health services is is available. While the assistant burning issue that links these three 2021 Policy improving the quality head of another tells how it helps high-pro le individuals. All have Crisis in community mental healthcare of life of all those pupils, confused about their spoken out about their battles with they care for. sexuality, to talk about it. their own personal demons. 23 Early release There is optimism We look at how a walk in the While their insights have been Mental healthcare in prisons that regional woods is improving the mental heralded as a watershed in changing Editors Debbie Andalo, Sarah Jewell devolution may o er health of people in Scotland and public attitudes towards mental health, Cover Getty Images Contact george. a more joined-up way how one Welsh prison is tackling others working to shape the future [email protected] of improving mental mental ill health. We consider of frontline services have also been This content has been supported by health and boost the the impact of the UK shortage of breaking new ground. Mind (whose brand it displays on the economy at the mental health nurses and, nally, Theresa May’s government’s cover). All content is editorially inde- pendent. For information on supported same time. how to protect our mental health commitment to taking power and by content, visit: Debbie Andalo And as the while living in the digital world. money away from Whitehall and giving theguardian.com/sponsored-content it to new regional organisations in England opened up new, unexpected, possibilities for mental health services. “We felt we had an opportunity to do something di erent,” says former health minister Norman Lamb, a key Heads up: Prince Confederation, which has applauded health lead for West Midlands police, player behind the changes. Harry revealed the work being done in the West has been seconded to Thrive West Originally it was envisaged that that he sought Midlands. Its chief executive Sean Midlands for two years. He says the the new organisations – regional counselling Duggan says: “The best available plan’s implementation will depend councils made up of at least two local nearly 20 years evidence supports the idea that changes on a holistic approach with a focus on authorities – would focus on jobs and after the death in housing, schooling and other areas prevention. The intention, says Russell, economic growth. However, those of his mother, can radically bene t mental health, is to try and introduce “scalable” leading this devolution revolution in Princess Diana especially if they are well integrated models that will make a di erence the West Midlands, Greater Manchester Getty Images with other services.” locally and nationally. and London recognised the economic Integration has been key for WMCA One of its ve key planks is to work importance of mental health, pushing since it launched last June. Today with employers “to help them see that the issue to the top of their agenda. it involves 18 local authorities and investing in wellbeing is a win-win”. Sarah Norman, chief executive o cer four local enterprise partnerships But there is also a focus on other areas, for wellbeing at the West Midlands representing business. The authority such as creating sustainable housing, Combined Authority (WMCA), says looked to the US and around the UK to reducing the number of people with research and consultation across see how it could involve key players, mental health problems in the criminal the NHS, and criminal justice and not just in health and social care, but justice system and tackling the stigma employment sectors produced evidence also in the criminal justice systems, the associated with mental ill health. that a mentally healthy population was voluntary sector and local businesses. But do these nascent regional not just a “moral issue” but one that It decided to set up a mental approaches have the potential to bring would have “clear economic bene ts”. health commission, chaired by Lamb, about a real change in mental health? Individuals with better mental health composed of national and local leaders Andy Bell, the Centre for Mental outcomes are more likely to nd from areas such as health, housing and Health’s deputy chief executive, says employment which in turn boosts local Changes in the police, and, crucially, people with that the challenges are complex, but productivity, Norman says. experience of the services. Lamb says regions are learning from one another: Improving mental health services, housing, that the commission was determined “It’s an opportunity to focus on [ways] she says, was a “good example” of schooling not to produce a well-meaning report to do things di erently.” bringing multiple bene ts at a time with a list of recommendations That is a view shared by Duggan, when the region had to tackle the “big and other “gathering dust” on a shelf, but rather a who says that all eyes are on what is challenges” of devolution – increasing areas can speci c action plan. happening in the West Midlands: “It productivity, and lling the nancial bene t The plan: Thrive West Midlands, was will be an essential test case for how gap between the money it received published in January. Duggan calls it other regions might innovate and join through taxation and what it actually mental an “unprecedented example of a region up services. needed to spend on services. health unifying very di erent services to “We are looking forward to … sharing That view is shared by the improve mental health”. its learnings with mental health services Mental Health Network of the NHS Superintendent Sean Russell, mental across the country.” The Guardian | Wednesday 10 May 2017 5 Older people Loneliness: a new epidemic With millions of older but, according to the Royal College 24-hour, free helpline for information of Psychiatrists, 85% of older people and companionship. In addition, British people living in isolation, with depression receive no NHS help Authorities Red Cross community connectors are Saba Salman asks what at all. The spotlight on older people need to volunteers who identify and attend local initiative – a group of nine older activities with lonely older people. is being done to help? people’s organisations led by the Jo Cox develop The Campaign to End Loneliness Commission on Loneliness – says that clear plans is developing a national initiative to more than half the users of over-50s tackle loneliness through community weekly phone call or social networking site Gransnet who say to reduce collaboration. Laura Alcock-Ferguson, visit from a volunteer are they are lonely have never discussed loneliness the campaign’s director, adds: “At among the solutions to loneliness with anyone. in their local a local level across the UK, health help ease the loneliness But solutions do exist, says authorities should be developing clear epidemic affecting 1.2 Abrahams: “There is no quick fix or areas plans to reduce loneliness and social million older people in single policy solution to eradicate isolation in their local areas.” AEngland, according to campaigners. loneliness but there are reasons to Dr Amanda Thompsell, chair of Age UK, says that 1.2 million older hope that we can change things for the the old age psychiatry faculty at the people are chronically lonely and that better.” An Age UK and Campaign to Royal College of Psychiatrists, says this has an adverse impact on mental End Loneliness 2015 report, Promising organisations developing support health, and the challenge will increase Approaches to Reducing Loneliness projects must also include older people as our population ages. In the next 20 and Isolation in Later Life, reveals and carers as well as psychiatrists, GPs, years, England’s over-85 population is good practice.

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