Agenda item

To receive a report introducing the Brent Public Mental Wellbeing Strategy and Suicide Prevention Plan.

Dr Melanie Smith introduced the report prepared by Marie McLoughlin, a Consultant in Public Health.

In considering the report which introduced the Brent Public Mental Wellbeing Strategy and Suicide Prevention Plan, the Board noted the following key points:

·         In July 2018, the Health and Wellbeing Board endorsed and adopted the Thrive LDN principles to shape its approach to the promotion of mental wellbeing. Thrive LDN is a city-wide movement sponsored by the Mayor of London and the London Health Board which aspired to promote mental wellbeing, prevent illness and eliminate suicide in London. Thrive LDN has six aspirations:

1. A city where individuals and communities take the lead

2. A city free from mental health stigma and discrimination

3. A city that maximises the potential of children and young people

4. Develop a healthy, happy and productive workforce

5. A city with services that are there when and where needed

6. A zero-suicide city

·         Aspiration 3 was being taken forward in Brent by the iThrive work and aspiration 5 was within the scope of the Health and Care Transformation Plan. Therefore, the public mental wellbeing plan focuses on the other 4 aspirations.

·         The Suicide Prevention Plan detailed in Appendix 1 had been informed by a workshop in April 2019 which was attended by PHE, the local NHS mental health provider, third sector organisations (including those with particular expertise in suicide prevention and / or support to those affected by suicide) and the police. The key messages from the event were:

1.    Endorsement of the action plan;

2.    A desire to link up with other boroughs and create joint actions; and

3.    Agreement to set up subgroups to take forward each of the action.

During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·         The statistics used in the report were from over four years ago when the last such national ONS survey was carried out. Not a small undertaking but if it was do-able, it should be explored if Brent partners could undertake the relevant survey locally to gather an up to date data-set;

·         ‘Are we okay Brent?’ was not perhaps a very familiar campaign and not heard of in general because it was mainly targeted at affected people using social media and enhanced search protocols;

·         In relation to suicides, given that more males were affected, particularly, Eastern European males, perhaps such most affected groups should be targeted as Brent had the largest European community in London;

·         Death in the neighbouring boroughs were higher which indicated the richness of Brent’s soft and compassionate approach could be a key factor and it would be perhaps timely to look at this aspect;

·         Local PCT involvement was welcome and Dr MC Patel would email Dr Melanie Smith.

In conclusion, the Board also noted that the future work would focus upon, among other things, on the following key areas:

·         Progress on collaborative work with neighbouring boroughs;

·         Better links with faith groups;

·         Effective use of existing fora, like Samaritans etc.; and.

·         Work on the next campaign.

Subject to the above, it was RESOLVED that:

The Health and Wellbeing Board approved the Public Mental Wellbeing Strategy and Suicide Prevention Plan.