Issue - meetings

To provide an update to the Health and Wellbeing Board on the Kirklees Health and Wellbeing Strategy (KHWS) priority of ‘Mental Wellbeing.’

Contact:  Rebecca Elliot, Public Health Manager and Paul Howatson, Programme Manager – Mental Health and Learning

Rebecca Elliot, Public Health Manager and Paul Howatson, Programme Manager provided an update on the Kirklees Health and Wellbeing Strategy priority on Mental Wellbeing. In summary, the Board was advised that the aim of the discussion will be to highlight the commitments made, highlight the success indicators, discuss the delivery on the ‘I statements’ and the local partner actions, touch on the recent successes and challenges currently being faced, and discuss the contribution that this priority makes to other top tier strategies, including the Kirklees outcomes and the ten ambitions of the Integrated Care Board.

Referring to a set of slides, the Board was reminded that the vision for the KHWS is:

“People who live, work or study in Kirklees live their best lives with good health and wellbeing, free from inequality, stigma, discrimination and barriers, so they can do and enjoy the things that matter to them.”

The information presented showed the links between the three main priorities of the KHWS and how they help to achieve the outcomes for Kirklees. In relation to mental wellbeing, a summary of the information presented is as follows:  

-      Best Start Outcome - there is an important link between parental mental health and the impact that has on a child’s mental health. It is also important to support family wellbeing even before conception. It is recognised that half of lifetime mental illness starts before the age of 14.

-      Well outcome - people with a diagnosed mental health condition, die on average 15 years earlier than those without, and protective factors such as being in good employment and being connected to other people and your place, plays and important part in keeping people with mental health conditions well.

-      Independent Outcome – the aim is to overcome in Kirklees, the unfortunate shame and stigma that people with mental health conditions still experience, and to enable people with mental health conditions to live well and thrive, and that their mental health condition does not hold them back.

The commitment that was made and outlined in the KHWS for mental health in respect of the ambition, is that “everyone in Kirklees achieves good mental health and has a good quality of life with purpose and fulfilment throughout their lives.”  The Board was directed to a list of the success indicators to be used throughout the duration of the KHWS to be able to monitor progress.

The success indicators are a mix of qualitative and quantitative indicators which is particularly important when it comes to the mental health priority. The aim is to be able to not only look at numbers, trends, and data, but also to be able to understand the stories behind the data.

Success indicators include:

-        % of people feeling happy

-        % of people feeling life is worthwhile

-        % of people feeling lonely*

-        Self-reported mental health

o    Adult emotional wellbeing*

o    Emotional wellbeing of 13/14 year olds*

-        Self-harm rate

-        Suicide rate

Qualitative

-        News stories  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42