Focus on mental health for wellbeing committee

Making sure people’s mental health is seen as important as their physical health is the focus for the next meeting of the West Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board.

The board meets on Thursday 17 July at 2pm, at County Hall North, Chart Way, Horsham.

The board will hear first-hand accounts from users of mental health services and their families/carers as well as a number of case studies including the award-winning Dementia Friendly Crawley initiative.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chairman of the board Christine Field said: “It is really important to focus on education, prevention and early intervention. Mental health and physical health are inextricably linked and maintaining positive mental health is just as important as maintaining good physical health.

“We must ensure early detection of problems and timely intervention for any person experiencing mental health difficulties, because we know that early intervention leads to the best health outcomes and reduces the likelihood of long term disability.

“We want to make sure local councils, the NHS and the voluntary sector are all working together to achieve the best for our residents. Improving the wellbeing of their community will improve their wider health outcomes as well as saving money.

“I would like to invite people with an interest in mental health services to attend the meeting.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Board will also be reviewing plans for how services will be delivered in the future, so that the Board can identify any gaps and challenges to be addressed, and whether there is adequate support to help people and their carers live well and to cope in times of crisis.

The Health and Wellbeing Board is made up of councillors, GPs, health and social care officials and representatives of patients and the public. Its role is to lead and advise on work to improve the health and wellbeing of the population of West Sussex through the development of improved and integrated health and social care services.

To find out more and to see the agenda, visit the Health and Wellbeing Board web pages on the West Sussex County Council website at www.westsussex.gov.uk

Related topics: