Public Health Annual Report PEOPLE POWER THROUGH Improves Health THICK N THIN Social Support Is Important in Increasing Resilience and Promoting Recovery from Illness
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Sandwell Metropolitan 2018-2019 Borough Council TheThe HealthyHealthy SandwellSandwell Director of Public Health Annual Report PEOPLE POWER THROUGH improves health THICK N THIN Social support is important in increasing resilience and promoting recovery from illness. Loneliness also makes it harder to KEEP OUT build willpower and TH’OSS ROAD resilience over time, which can lead to A person’s social unhealthy habits. networks can have a significant impact on The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital. Dr Mark Hyman MD their health. One large scale international 45 years ago the Metropolitan Borough of study showed that Sandwell was formed, sharing power with over seven years, the West Midlands County Council. A lot has those with good social changed since then, but what remains central relationships had a to Sandwell’s identity is its residents and 50 per cent greater their strong sense of community. Research survival rate compared shows that spending time with other people with individuals is a great way to improve our health. Through with poor social this report we show what community means relationships. to Sandwell, and how it is having a real impact on health outcomes. Markets have always been a hub of activity in Sandwell, where Like in many towns at the time, West Bromwich High Street was people came together every week and built strong relationships in the process of being pedestrianised in September 1974 CONTENTS ‘People Power’ Improves Health Research shows that People power improves health ...................................... 2 spending time with other people is a great Our community and way to improve our our health ............................... 4 health. Sandwell Wednesbury Sandwell’s stats ..................... 6 Whether you live in West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Smethwick, Oldbury, Rowley Regis or Tipton, there are lots Improving health and of ways to get active and meet new building resilience ................ 8 people in your local area. 10 The new Director of Public Health Tipton Public Health at work .......... for Sandwell wants to raise awareness of how important 12 West SHAPE .................................. community groups and activities are Bromwich important for our health. At the heart of the Dr Lisa McNally said “As we work to Oldbury community ........................... 14 improve health in our local area, we need to look at what is strong in our SCVO .................................... 15 community, not just at what is wrong.” N NW NE “Sandwell is a place brimming with Rowley Regis Leisure centres .................... 16 community groups and projects, Smethwick run by local people for local people. Oldbury in focus ................. 18 Whether they be a walking group, W E a choir, a parents group, a drama Rowley Regis in focus ......... 23 society or a craft club – all of them SW SE have the potential to improve health Smethwick in focus ............. 26 and well-being.” S This report looks at our local 29 community as a source of health. Tipton in focus ..................... We hope to take you on a journey through our borough to meet our community and see the great work that is currently going on How do community groups improve Wednesbury in focus .......... 32 health and well-being, and what examples do we have in each of West Bromwich in focus ..... 34 our six towns? Acknowledgements There are stories from those that Vision 2030 .......................... 36 organise community activities and Lisa would like to thank colleagues from Sandwell Public Health and those that have benefited from them. organisations who provided such great case studies for inclusion in our Sport ..................................... 39 They show how community activity report. Special mention to Ansaf Azhar, Katie Deeley, Sara Whitehouse, in Sandwell is something for us to be Richard Cooksey, Amarjit Ballagan and Liz Beard for their efforts in truly proud of and support to thrive. Lisa McNally, Director getting the report turned around in record quick time! of Public Health 2 3 Sandwell 45 years ago Local illustrator Our Community Charlie Griggs entertains children with his Desperate Dan cartoons in the and Our Health Dandy comics The Metropolitan Borough There are many reasons why getting involved in a community activity of Sandwell was formed is good for our health. For example, joining a walking group will West Bromwich obviously mean we are more physically active, while getting involved Albion finish 6th in the English Second in a choir or a craft group can help reduce our stress levels. Division However, maybe the main The good news is that, if we In Sandwell, we’re lucky to Health and Safety at reason community activities help people become less have such a strong community This even includes those who Work Act 1974 was are good for our health is socially isolated, then their spirit, which means that there’s may have disabilities or long released the primary because of the friendship they health outcomes can improve. a lot on offer to anyone who is term health problems. The latest piece of legislation offer and their potential to Research has even shown that feeling lonely or isolated. There national survey shows that the covering occupational reduce loneliness. when people join a new, group- are literally hundreds proportion of social care users health and safety in based social activity, the extent of community groups run by in Sandwell who say they have Great Britain. to which they need to see their local people for local people as much social contact as they would like is significantly higher “The power of doctor or go to hospital reduces (many are in this report). 3 2 than the national average! community to create significantly . Let’s not be complacent health is far greater however. We can all keep than any physician, looking to increase the number Sandwell today of community activities that local clinic or hospital.” people have to choose from. Local born actress Dr Mark Hyman MD We also need to ensure those Julie Walters receives activities get the right support to Dame Commander thrive. If we do, Sandwell will not of the Order of the There has been a lot of research just a fun place to live, but also a British Empire looking at the impact of loneliness healthier place to live. West Bromwich Albion are on health. For example, studies pushing for promotion in show that it increases your the English Second Division risk of heart disease, diabetes, (Championship) depression and even dementia. It has also been linked with 1McNally (2018) Social Factors in Population New Director of Public Health delays in discharge from hospital Health Management starts at Sandwell Council http://www.mentalhealthchallenge.org.uk/social- and a greater risk of hospital Warley Baptist Church garden project showing community spirit at its best, factors-population-health-management/ readmission following discharge1. with Cllr Syeda Khatun MBE and Cllr Steve Trow. The Data 2Uni. Of Liverpool (2014) Protection Act http://www.champspublichealth.com/sites/ default/files/loneliness%20final.pdf is passed and 3Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework. looks to protect “Community is as important now, as it was then” https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/ people’s data publications/clinical-indicators/adult-social-care- outcomes-framework-ascof/current 4 5 6 7 The following pages present how In 2030, Sandwell Sandwell Public Health and other organisations local to Sandwell are is a thriving, working together with the community to optimistic and make a real difference to local people. Community asset-based This work is represented in the resilient community Directorate Business plan and feeds approaches to It’s where we call home and where we’re into the council wide Vision 2030. proud to belong - where we choose to bring up our families, where we feel safe and cared for, enjoying good health, rewarding IMPROVING work, feeling connected and valued in our neighbourhoods and communities, confident in the future, and benefiting fully from a HEALTH & BUILDING revitalised West Midlands More information about the Vision 2030 RESILIENCE ambitions can be found on page 36. for wellbeing A person’s social networks Social support is Lack of social networks can have a significant particularly important in and support, and chronic impact on their health. increasing resilience and loneliness, produces One large scale promoting recovery from long-term damage to international study showed illness (Pevalin and Rose physiological health via that over seven years, 2003). raised stress hormones, those with adequate Strong social capital can poorer immune function social relationships had also improve the chances of and cardiovascular health. a 50 per cent greater avoiding lifestyle risks such Loneliness also makes it survival rate compared as smoking (Folland 2008; harder to self-regulate with individuals with poor Brown et al 2006). However, behaviour and build social relationships (Holt- in the most deprived willpower and resilience Lunstad et al 2010). Social communities, almost half over time, leading to networks have been shown of people report severe engagement in unhealthy to be as powerful predictors lack of support (Halpern behaviours (Cacioppo and of mortality as common 2004), making people Patrick 2009). lifestyle and clinical who are at greater risk less risks such as moderate resilient to the health effects smoking, excessive alcohol of social and economic consumption, obesity and disadvantage.