Agenda item

This Council notes:

• 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year;
• The World Health Organisation predicts that depression will be the second most common health condition worldwide by 2020;
• Mental ill health costs some £105 billion each year in England alone;
• People with a severe mental illness die up to 20 years younger than their peers in the UK;
• There is often a circular relationship between mental health and issues such as housing, employment, family problems or debt.

This Council believes:

• As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in improving the mental health of everyone in our community and tackling some of the widest and most entrenched inequalities in health.;
• Mental health should be a priority across all the local authority’s areas of responsibility, including housing, community safety and planning;
• All Councillors, whether members of the Executive or Scrutiny and in our community and casework roles, can play a positive role in championing mental health on an individual and strategic basis.

This Council resolves:

• To sign the Local Authorities’ Mental Health Challenge run by Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Providers Forum, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness, Royal College of Psychiatrists and YoungMinds;
• We commit to appoint an elected Member as ‘mental health champion’ across the Council;
• We will seek to identify a member of staff within the Council to act as ‘lead officer’ for mental health;

·         The Council will also:
1.         Support positive mental health in our community, including in local schools, neighbourhoods and workplaces ;
2.       Work to reduce inequalities in mental health in our community;
3.       Work with local partners to offer effective support for people with mental health needs;
4.       Tackle discrimination on the grounds of mental health in our community;
5.       Proactively listen to people of all ages and backgrounds about what they need for better mental health.

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Nicky Jerrome and seconded by Councillor Nick Ray.

‘This Council notes:

• 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
• The World Health Organisation predicts that depression will be the second most common health condition worldwide by 2020.
• Mental ill health costs some £105 billion each year in England alone.
• People with a severe mental illness die up to 20 years younger than their peers in the UK.
• There is often a circular relationship between mental health and issues such as housing, employment, family problems or debt.

This Council believes:

• As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in improving the mental health of everyone in our community and tackling some of the widest and most entrenched inequalities in health.
• Mental health should be a priority across all the local authority’s areas of responsibility, including housing, community safety and planning.
• All councillors, whether members of the Executive or Scrutiny and in our community and casework roles, can play a positive role in championing mental health on an individual and strategic basis.

This Council resolves:

• To sign the Local Authorities’ Mental Health Challenge run by Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Providers Forum, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness, Royal College of Psychiatrists and YoungMinds.
• We commit to appoint an elected Member as ‘mental health champion’ across the Council.
• We will seek to identify a member of staff within the council to act as ‘lead officer’ for mental health

The Council will also:

1.   Support positive mental health in our community, including in local schools, neighbourhoods and workplaces

2.   Work to reduce inequalities in mental health in our community

3.   Work with local partners to offer effective support for people with mental health needs

4.   Tackle discrimination on the grounds of mental health in our community

5.   Proactively listen to people of all ages and backgrounds about what they need for better mental health.’

It was proposed by Councillor Julian McGhee-Sumner and seconded by Councillor Charlotte Haitham Taylor that the Motion be amended as follows:

‘This Council notes:- 1 in 4 people will experience some form of mental health problem in their lifetime. Despite improvements in services and greater understanding of mental health conditions, there remains a stigma around mental health, which has endured, along with physical health inequalities - those with severe and enduring mental illness may die up to 20 years younger than their peers.  As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in improving the mental health of everyone in our community and tackling some of the widest and most entrenched inequalities in health.

Adult mental health services in Wokingham, provided by the council in partnership with Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, are in good shape, performing well above the national average on a range of indicators. Nevertheless Wokingham residents experiencing mental ill health face many of the same challenges caused by stigma and health inequality – poor physical health, unemployment, isolation and even homelessness.

All Councillors can play a positive role in championing mental health.

This Council resolves:-

That each and every Councillor will champion the cause of mental health inequality in their elected Member role by positively challenging mental health discrimination and by ensuring that in all of their work as an elected member, both within the council and with partner organisations, they ensure that the needs of those with mental health problems are considered. This council also contends that a senior officer from Wokingham Borough Council will liaise with those running the Mental Health Challenge to see if anything they have to offer would benefit our delivery of services to the people of the Borough.’

The amendment to the Motion was accepted by the proposer of the original Motion.

Following further debate and upon being put to the meeting, the amended Motion was declared by the Mayor to be carried.

RESOLVED:  That this Council notes:- 1 in 4 people will experience some form of mental health problem in their lifetime. Despite improvements in services and greater understanding of mental health conditions, there remains a stigma around mental health, which has endured, along with physical health inequalities - those with severe and enduring mental illness may die up to 20 years younger than their peers.  As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in improving the mental health of everyone in our community and tackling some of the widest and most entrenched inequalities in health.

Adult mental health services in Wokingham, provided by the council in partnership with Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, are in good shape, performing well above the national average on a range of indicators. Nevertheless Wokingham residents experiencing mental ill health face many of the same challenges caused by stigma and health inequality – poor physical health, unemployment, isolation and even homelessness.

All Councillors can play a positive role in championing mental health.

This Council resolves: ·

That each and every Councillor will champion the cause of mental health inequality in their elected Member role by positively challenging mental health discrimination and by ensuring that in all of their work as an elected member, both within the council and with partner organisations, they ensure that the needs of those with mental health problems are considered. This council also contends that a senior officer from Wokingham Borough Council will liaise with those running the Mental Health Challenge to see if anything they have to offer would benefit our delivery of services to the people of the Borough.