Summit Aims To Prevent Mental Health Crisis

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Local hospital trusts join with community leaders to implement action plan

An urgent community summit is to be held involving South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trusts as well as community leaders to determine what action needs to be taken to prevent a mental health crisis caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday 16 June 2021, community leaders, senior staff from the trusts and the South West London Integrated Care System will meet between 6-8pm to share the top priorities for a two-year action plan.

At the summit, South London NHS Mental Health Trusts, local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and NHS Commissioners will all be asked to pledge their commitment to take specific actions .  

More than 5,700 people from across all boroughs in South London will have helped shape the action plan as part of the South London Listens campaign that began in November 2020.

In 2020, the UK experienced the most significant decline in GDP since the 1920s, and during the first three months of this year, 21 per cent of adults experienced depression, more than double the level in 2019. 67 per cent of young people believe that the pandemic will have a long-term adverse effect on their mental health. 

On 10 November 2020, the South London Mental Health and Community Partnership working with Local Authorities and the South East and South West London Integrated Care System, launched South London Listens in partnership with the charity CitizensUK.

This four-month listening campaign asked residents to help shape the priorities and co-produce a two-year action plan. Since last year, 350 community leaders have brought their communities together to talk about their personal experiences and co-design solutions to be delivered in partnership. 

At the 16 June Summit, Community Leaders will present their ‘asks’ around four key priority areas that have significantly impacted their community’s mental health since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. These priorities will be tackled through a two-year partnership approach with communities and statutory organisations: social isolation, work and wages, young people and parental mental health, and access to services.  

Ann Beasley, Chair of South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust said,  ‘I have been moved and inspired by the stories and ideas shared as part of South London Listens. Collaboration is the key to building lasting solutions, both with our partners in south London and hand in hand with our communities.’

Millie Banerjee, Chair of South West London Integrated Care System said, “This unique collaboration between our communities, South London's three mental health Trusts, local authorities, faith groups and third sector organisations means we can now act on the issues that our communities have told us are important to them. That’s why I will be attending the Summit on Wednesday 16 June and would encourage you to join us!’

This summit marks the beginning of a two-year mental ill health prevention and recovery programme to turn the tide and help create strong, resilient and healthy communities.  

Vanessa Ford, Chief Executive of South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust said,   "As an important anchor institution in south west London, I am determined to continue working in partnership with our communities. I will be attending the summit on 16 June, ready to pledge to act on the issues that will have the biggest impact on our communities and to help rebuild lives.” 

The summit will be held on Zoom on Wednesday 16 June 2021 from 6pm to 8pm. You can register by clicking this link.
https://cuk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kLSUxe6SQeiEaaRo3Sh0Zw

May 24, 2021