Adult Mental Health Services
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed Jill Roberts who was the Chief Executive of Sevenoaks Area Mind. Members were advised that Sevenoaks Area Mind worked with national Mind but they had their own board of trustees. The Charity worked directly with people who had mental health problems, however this was not always straight forward as mental health was complex and could not always be understood. The successes were measured by nationally recognised recordings which then went into national data to help learn and develop ways forward.
Members were advised that most of the people that went to them suffered with mild to moderate mental health issues. Mild mental health issues included areas such as anxiety, mild depression, and phobias of which 1 in 4 people suffered from. They were not supported medically but rather through ‘Healthy Mind’ which included 1 to 1 counselling and cognitive behaviour therapies available across West Kent. Adults who suffer from more moderate to severe mental health issues were also referred and of those 60% had seen an improvement.
Members were informed that some funding was received from the Council to help support some of the services provided. This included ‘befrienders’, ‘singing for mental health and wellbeing,’ and providing community services such as the community garden. There were also health checks for physical heath to give a holistic approach to health. For long term sufferers of mental health supported housing could be offered however this was limited to only 15 spaces.
It was reported that 9 in 10 suffers of mental health issues experience discrimination which in some cases was more difficult to deal with than the health issue itself. Training courses were also offered to people working with people who suffered from mental health illnesses to support them. Anti-stigma work was important for all.
Jill Roberts explained to Members new work which was being undertaken such as working with young people in schools and colleges as an early intervention and to reduce the stigma around mental health. ‘Mind Fitness’ was a workshop also run in schools providing information on ‘six ways to wellbeing’. It was hoped that further development of teenage mental first aid courses would be run in the future to give teachers and helpers enough resources to benefit parents and young people.
In response to questions, Members were advised that 25% of people who came to see Mind were suffering from pre or postnatal depression however it was estimated that 40% of women suffered from this but were too afraid to seek help due to the stigma around it. There were many gaps still within mental health and that it would continue until it was treated in the same way to physical health however there were great efforts to improve the services.
Some Members expressed concern that there was little support in the North of the District. The Chief Officer Communities and Business advised that the Council’s grant scheme was widely advertised throughout the District.
In response to a question Jill informed Members that there were statutory services for children but adult mental health was a different way of working. It was currently changing so that children’s health was not cut off at 18 but would go up to 24 years of age. Mind’s current involvement with children was more preventative rather than therapeutic.
The Board thanked Jill for attending the meeting.