Agenda item - Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Report of the Director of Public Health (copy attached)  

RESOLVED -  That the Board note the report and its findings.

23.1    The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health setting out the Brighton and Hove Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. It was noted the Board had approved the undertaking of an all-ages mental health and wellbeing joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) for Brighton and Hove in 2021. As a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, this needs assessment had been undertaken in 2022.

23.2    A detailed presentation was given summarising the findings and key recommendations of the needs assessment which had been carried out and had covered all ages. I was confirmed that the purpose of the JSNA was to provide an evidence base to increase population resilience in order to improve the range and quality of support for those with mental health problems and to address inequalities and sought to describe the impact on mental health and wellbeing of the building blocks of health  such as education, income, housing and other socio-economic factors; protective and risk factors that affect mental health and wellbeing and focused on groups facing greater risks and higher levels of mental health needs. 

23.3    It was clarified in answer to questions that the report was intended to set out a shared understanding of the city’s challenges and assets, it had seven recommendation areas for action. Delivery of the recommendations would be overseen by the Brighton and Hove Health and Care Partnership with actions specific to children and young people or Adults directed through the relevant place-based board and set out a timeline for delivery.

23.4    Councillor Appich referred to the one of the stated aims of the assessment, which was to build on existing community assets, this appeared to have been removed from the most up to date version of the report. Councillor Appich was anxious that this was not lost sight of. It was explained that reference to this had been moved to the section a section of the report which made specific reference to Communities.   

23.5    Councillor Appich commended the report which she considered to be excellent report, co-production in relation to some areas of work was welcomed. It should be noted that it was difficult to enhance and sustain a healthy lifestyle against a backdrop of working long hours for low pay.

23.6    Councillor Shanks, the Chair referred to the pressures on young people in schools particularly as a consequence of Covid 19. It was confirmed that this was an area had shown an increase and that schools had put measures in place to address this.

23.7    Councillor Robins referred to the fact that at any one time 1 in 5 of the adult population of Brighton and Hove was estimated to have a common mental health problem compared to 1 in 6 across England. This was very high and, in his view needed to be highlighted more. Exercise could be key and for instance if the TECC Committee was seeking to close/reduce the opening of swimming pools and other facilities, the potential impact on that should form part of the discussion and decision making.

23.8    The Director of Public Health that these issues were long standing, it was important not to lose focus on them going forward.

23.9    David Liley, Healthwatch, stated that this was very important, on-going broad engagement would continue to be very important.  

23.10  Councillor Brown noted that although significant improvements had been made to the provision of services for young people, further improvements were still needed. Provision for older people did not appear to have been given the same level of priority. There was recognition that improved co-ordination of transitional support across all groups was required and would create greater resilience.

23.11  Ashley Scarff stated that the report was excellent, its stated aims were fully supported by NHS Partners.

23.12  Ruth Hillman explained that young adult services did not always fit into neat categories and it was important to have adequate signposting available for that age group.

23.13  The Executive Director, Adult Health and Social Care stated that in the challenges that were faced across the city were such that it was vital for delivery to provided strategically.  

23.14  Joanne Martindale referred to the role of the voluntary sector and the network which youth workers had into the community which could assist in providing signposting to/for harder to reach groups.

23.15  Councillor Shanks, the Chair, stated that the using opportunities provided by the needs assessment to make connections was very important.  

23.16  RESOLVED - That the Board note the report and its findings.