Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Corporate Director of Adults and Health Services, the Director of Public Health and the Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement, Durham County Council that informed of the prevention at scale work being carried out (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Director of Public Health gave a detailed presentation, together with Chris Affleck, the Project Worker of Investing in Children (IIC) team that highlighted the following:-

·         County Durham Partnership Priority

·         Targeted Proposal – Mental Health at Scale

·         Suicide Prevention

·         Suicide as a cross-cutting theme

·         Area of Focus – reducing suicide with a focus on workforce, children and young people and men aged 45-49

·         Progress since January

·         Links to National and Regional Approach

·         LGA Prevention at Scale Programme

·         Behavioural Insights

·         Design in the Public Sector

·         Design Council

·         What will success look like?

The Project Worker of Investing in Children highlighted the next steps of the programme that included a time to talk, time to walk day.  A workforce in East Durham had recently undertaken this which takes the employees away from the office and benefited mental health as well as physical health. An event would be held at the Town Hall in Durham which would include representatives from the local authority, nurses, social housing, providers, young people, Harbour, NEAS and Education.

He went on to describe the work of ‘Stamp it Out’ that used art resources and helped young people develop a campaign with pledges being made about mental health challenges.

There were four key events taking place – Time to talk, time to walk, Mental Health Awareness, Suicide Awareness and World Mental Health day.  The Project Worker said that this would be an opportunity for people to talk to colleagues about their own personal experiences.

The board were advised that an application for funding to the Time to Change funding hub had been declined from the Northern Hub network, and it was felt that IIC were ahead of other areas given the support received by Durham County Council.  Experiences had been shared with other areas and Durham IIC had been invited along to other events as an organisation in relation to sharing best practice.  There was also a digital offer available.

The Director of Public Health thanked the Project Worker for being such a strong advocate.

Councillor Gunn commented that as local members are often the people who deal with people who have issues and problems accessing the right help, that it would be helpful for them to have the information to be able to assist.

The Chairman said that people could live well with mental health issues and that they needed people to listen to them.  She encouraged the board to keep pushing this agenda but recognised that it was a long process.

The Strategic Manager, DCC advised that the partnership event would be held on 10 October 2018 and the focus of the event would be on mental health.

The Director of Public Health asked the Board to continue to support the prevention at scale programme, that board members nominate appropriate workforce leads from partner organisations and to play a role in the evaluation of Durham’s approach and sustainability.

Resolved:-

That the report and presentation be noted.