Mental Health Awareness Week: Partnership highlights key project to gain a better understanding of mental health needs in Shropshire
Health colleagues across Shropshire are working together to better understand mental health needs in Shropshire.
Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board will be developing a ‘needs assessment’ that will provide an understanding of the populations mental health, how people use services now, what people need to keep mentally and emotionally well and identify where there are inequalities and any gaps in services.
Mental Health is one of the key priorities for Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board which comprises of health and social care partners from Shropshire Council, CCG, NHS and the Voluntary and Community Sector. The needs assessment will inform partnership working with stakeholders and the community, through a shared understanding of needs.
Councillor Karen Calder, Cabinet Member for Health and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board said;
“Mental health is vital to individuals’ wellbeing and raising awareness of mental health and finding ways to encourage people to talk about any difficulties they may have, is key to making sure that people can access the help they need.
“Our mental health needs assessment will provide a better picture of mental health in Shropshire and will inform strategies for promoting mental health, reducing inequalities and help us to commission the right services that meet the mental health needs of local people.”
Throughout Mental Health Awareness week, Shropshire Councils Library service have been hosting a series of events throughout the county. Founded in 2000, Mental Health Week is a UK event supported by the Mental Health Foundation. The aim of this week is to educate the public about mental health issues and to promote better mental health. This year’s event focuses on the importance of good relationships in maintaining good mental health.
Cllr Calder added
“It’s great to see that our local Libraries have been supporting Mental Health Awareness Week. Whether for yourself, or to help support someone else, libraries have some fantastic resources for health and wellbeing including events and short-courses where you can access more information.”
For more information about the work of Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board visit www.shropshiretogether.org.uk.
For information about Mental Health in Shropshire visit www.healthyshropshire.co.uk.
Further information
Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board also supported a large mental health event in
late 2015 that brought together partners from across Shropshire to decide on areas for action and to understand the work underway. There is also a focus on children and young people’s mental health, and Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils and Clinical Commissioning Groups are joining together to transform these services for young people. Full details of the transformation plan can be found here.
