Mental health on agenda for wellbeing meeting

The West Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board will meet at 2pm at County Hall North, Chart Way, Horsham, to 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.

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.”

The Board will also be reviewing plans of how services will be delivered in the future, so they can identify challenges to be addressed, and see if there is adequate support to help people and their carers live well and 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