Agenda item

[To receive an update on public mental health approach during COVID-19 and an update on the work of the Suicide Prevention Forum.]

Jamie Annakin, Principal Public Health Specialist presented the briefing note on Public Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Adults) and highlighted salient points. The briefing note provided an update on public mental health approaches by City of Wolverhampton Council and strategic partners to promote adult population mental wellbeing and provide support pathways for adults experiencing mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The briefing note also outlined future workstreams, including a review of digital support to ensure services continued to deliver throughout the City.

It was noted that there had been limitations on face-to-face meetings, however the service had adapted to offer support where it was needed the most, ensuring targeted mental health support for at risk groups. 

It was reported that there had been mental health campaigns across the City and involving all stakeholders from Health and Wellbeing Together, particularly around Mental Health Awareness week.

It was noted that service providers had been mindful of the fact that digital services were not accessible to everyone, therefore initiatives had been introduced, such as literature included in the food parcels distributed by volunteers to clinically and financially vulnerable residents which outlined the 10 steps to wellbeing and provided contact details to access services.

There had been a number of radio broadcasts addressing issues such as fear and apprehension, anxiety and sleep difficulties which included information signposting listeners to access services. This was held in conjunction with many local stations, including several community stations to ensure outreach to minority communities as well.

A telephone line had been established and run by volunteers as part of the City’s Stay Safe, Be Kind campaign to support residents who were experiencing low mood with clear pathways to signpost to further support if required. Mental health support had also been offered to call handlers who had been affected by distressing conversations with callers.

A number of other initiatives had been introduced such as self-referral routes into mental health services.

Clare Dickens, Chair of the Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum provided a verbal update on the work of the Forum. It was outlined that stakeholders had come together to establish the Forum and form an action plan around suicide prevention that aligned with the public health spectrum. It was stated that the Forum operated on the ethos that suicide is not inevitable and everyone deserves to keep themselves safe.

It was noted that many people who had died by suicide had not always been known to mental health services; a person did not necessarily have to have a mental health issue to be thinking of suicide. It was reported that gathering and analysing data had proved a challenge as there had been a lag from the Office of National Statistics, often meaning information arrived too late, therefore work around data surveillance was being undertaken.

It was noted that there had been joint working with media colleagues at local newspaper the Express and Star around ensuring safe and sensitive suicide-related reporting. This was also to ensure readers who were at risk were not exposed to triggers.

It was highlighted that suicide prevention was not only talking someone out of suicide but enabling them to build a future that was worth living for. It was noted that an awareness of the numbers of suicides, work around understanding suicide attempts and pre-emptive planning were key.

Major events had been organised to raise awareness of the topic, such as the Hope Walk where residents joined together to visit partners and distributing literature created in conjunction with suicide prevention charity Papyrus to provide contact information to access services.

Special thanks were offered to the Mayor for making the Forum a chosen charity to enable the Forum to not just influence but deliver outcomes. It was planned for the Forum to become a registered charity to generate more income to deliver on these outcomes.

It was highlighted that the Forum were fully committed to their work to prevent suicide as it was stated that any death by suicide was one too many. Suicide was often the ultimate consequence of inequalities such as unemployment or other factors and, although the full impact of the pandemic was not yet understood, it was thought the stress triggers caused by the current situation were likely to raise the risk of suicidal thoughts.

It was highlighted that suicides had reduced in the City which was encouraging, however it was noted that work still needed to be continued as it was reiterated that each death was one too many. It was noted that three out of four deaths were men in the 45 – 59 age range, therefore there had been a maintained focus on this demographic.

The work around mental wellbeing and the work of the Forum were both commended.

Resolved:

That the Joint Mental Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention Forum Update be received.