Agenda item
MENTAL HEALTH IN TOWER HAMLETS, 2019-2024
Presented by Carrie Kilpatrick, Deputy Director Mental Health and Joint Commissioning.
This will be an extended session covering the foundations of mental health, headline indicators for Tower Hamlets, the spectrum of mental health conditions, current plans and approach to new strategy/plan. The Board is asked to discuss their thoughts on priorities for the strategy/plan.
5.10-6.00pm (50 mins)
Minutes:
The Chair changed the order of business so that item 7 ‘Tower Hamlets Together Commissioning Intentions’ was brought forward as the first item.
For convenience the minutes will follow the order as published on the agenda.
The Board considered the report of Carrie Kilpatrick, Deputy Director of Mental Health and Joint Commissioning. A presentation was tabled to accompany her report.
Comments from the Board:
- Members requested a breakdown of disorders for the 5-16 year olds experiencing mental health problems? It was noted that the data was estimated based on population surveys.
- It was clarified that the data on dementia was based on the level of need and was not a representation of how good clinicians are at diagnosing.
User Group representatives from the Mental Health Partnership Board were invited to speak about their experiences. Their comments were noted below:
- There is an assumption you recover – we don’t, it’s a long term condition for most people.
- Recovery is a nuanced process, you need to start over with a new perspective on life and this may take longer for some than others.
- Access to direct and continuous support would be helpful such as a direct line to a psychiatrist.
- Mental health should be considered in the same way as long term physical conditions.
- It sometimes takes up to 9 months to access the appropriate support and by that time the issue may have alleviated.
- Poor mental health is linked to poor housing and employment. The bigger picture needs to be looked at.
- Friends should be allowed to accompany you to an appointment. Sometimes patients are told this isn’t allowed. Clearer guidance was welcomed.
- There needs to be a commitment to improving housing for those with mental health issues.
The Chair thanked the representatives for their insight and speaking about their experiences.
Further comments from the Board:
- Social prescribing and web consultation should be further developed. There was approximately 10% take up for online GP.
- Web consultation with GP could provide for richer consultation as notes could be written by the individual in greater depth.
- The Board welcomed the Mental Health Strategy. They advised commissioners to consider group talking therapies and services for LGBT people as there was a high rate of suicide amongst gay men.
- Commissioners were cautioned against compartmentalising services into ‘young people’ and ‘adult’ mental health. There was a transitional period that should be considered.
- Commissioners said that that there was sophisticated work planned for children and young people that addressed the transitional period. The Lead Member for Children and Chair of Safeguarding Board wished to receive further information about this.
ACTION:For Carrie Kilpatrick to provide Councillor Danny Hassell and Stephen Ashley with more detailed information on children and young people’s mental health commissioning during the transition from child to adult.
ACTION: Carrie Kilpatrick to provide a breakdown of data to ascertain whether there are hotspots in the borough where childhood mental health issues are prevalent.
RESOLVED:
1. To agree the proposal to develop a 2019-24 Mental Health Strategy using the timescale outlined in section 3.2.10 of the report.
2. To agree to the following proposed aspects of the strategy in particular:
· Having a mental health strategy as a higher level ‘plan on page’ document as oppose to a full detailed strategy.
· Keeping the focus of this work on adults, recognising that work on children and young people is being picked up through CAMHS transformation work and the Tower Hamlets Together Workstream work plan.
· Ensuring consistency with the Aging Well Strategy in relation to dementia, noting that the issue is covered in-depth in this document.
· Using the Mental Health Strategy as a vehicle for articulating our local approach to Thrive London and the NHS Five Year Forward View for Mental Health.
· That development of the mental health strategy be overseen by the Mental Health Partnership Board.
Supporting documents:
- ITEM 2.1 - Mental Health Strategy Scope _FINAL (27.09.2018), item 4. PDF 146 KB
- Tower Hamlets Mental Health Strategy 2019- TABLED SLIDES, item 4. PDF 474 KB