Plan to improve mental health services in City and Hackney

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A plan to improve mental health support and services in the City of London and Hackney has been launched to target more people including those that are homeless and rough sleepers.

This is the first joint Mental Health Strategy for City and Hackney, which has been developed by City and Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), London Borough of Hackney and the City of London Corporation.

The plan aims to address undiagnosed mental health needs of people who ‘slip through the net’ as they do not access services early enough and will often end up in A&E, or using ambulance and 111 services. The strategy aims to improve access to support and services for these residents.

Other groups that the plan aims to help include people with alcohol and drug addictions, LGBTQ+ people, older adults and BME groups such as young black men and boys.

Young black men and boys are under-represented in early engagement of services and support, but over-represented in more acute services like inpatient admissions, or detained under the Mental Health Act needing urgent treatment for mental health disorders.

Tom Rahilly, Councillor for Kings Park Ward and London Borough of Hackney’s Mental Health Champion, said: “The joint strategy will bring many benefits for residents across Hackney and City of London. It will enhance the joint partnership working and collaborative approach between all partners to ensure we are working more effectively on prevention and improving outcomes in mental health.”

Matthew Bell, elected Member for Farringdon Within and the City of London Corporation’s Mental Health Champion, said: “This new strategy takes a whole population approach, whilst ensuring the most vulnerable people in our local areas will receive some of the support they need.

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“However, mental health starts at home with good education, good jobs, good salaries and secure neighbourhoods. This is an important, bold initiative and a valuable societal resource until such a time as the other things I have mentioned are in place.”

Last year Hackney Council and City of London Corporation were also the first governing bodies in London to sign up to the ‘Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health’, a national agreement to help improve mental health and wellbeing for residents.

The Concordat outlines a series of actions that all partners can take to ensure there is better collaboration to improve mental health care, promotion and prevention.

Hackney and City of London are supported by local health partners including the CCG, Healthwatch Hackney, Healthwatch City of London, East London Foundation Trust, Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust, and voluntary and community groups.

The new joint mental health strategy will focus on an integrated mental and physical health approach to help people with chronic physical conditions and serious mental health problems.

It will focus on early measures to support and care for residents within their local communities to promote good mental health where possible in City and Hackney’s integrated care system.

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