Issue - meetings

To update the Board on the Mental Wellbeing theme of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy priorities.

Contact:  Rebecca Elliott, Public Health Manager

Rebecca Elliott, Public Health Manager, along with colleagues from a range of organisations, and services, advised the Board, that the update would be on the Mental Wellbeing priority of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The particular focus will be on the trauma informed approaches being taken across the Kirklees system. There are a number of speakers from across the Kirklees place who will contribute to the discussion, sharing some examples of the trauma informed approaches that are already happening.

The Board was informed that trauma is a public health issue, and research suggests that people who experience adverse childhood experiences are more likely to use alcohol, smoke, develop chronic diseases, and trauma can happen at anytime during the life course. Therefore, it is important to think about trauma informed approaches across the full life course. People are also more likely to develop mental health conditions and it is important to think about how trauma informed organisations are,  and how trauma responsive they are. Not only in respect of the local population, but also for the people employed.

The Board was directed to a slide which outlined a pledge that the Director of Public Health, Rachel Spencer-Henshall, agreed to last year.

‘Kirklees is committed to reducing health inequalities across the life course and tackling the risk factors that contribute towards adversity and trauma. Now more than ever, we are focused on working at place level and working with communities to really understand how we can build upon local assets and enhance protective factors for resilience. I pledge to support the ambition for West Yorkshire to be trauma informed and responsive by 2030, by sharing best practice and working in an integrated way to support those facing multiple disadvantages in the best way possible’.

Emm Irving, Head of Population Health from West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), gave an overview of the West Yorkshire programme that supports the programmes already being undertaken in place. The Board was informed that currently in the world there is a great deal going on that is causing trauma and adversity for the population, therefore, instead of talking about what  could be done, it is important to talk about what happens if nothing is done. There is likely to be an increase in the number of children born into poverty, an increase in children and adults in the criminal justice system, an increase in violence, health harming behaviours and disease, therefore it is important to act.

The programme across West Yorkshire, looks at how to work together as a system, all organisations, the entire workforce and the population to be trauma informed. It is an iterative journey, and it does not end and therefore, the aim is to get to a position where organisations and people are trauma informed, responding and constantly learning. The West Yorkshire programme is around supporting capacity, capability and intelligence across the system including place, providing resources, training and expertise around the subject area, also working with the large West Yorkshire organisations such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10