York leaders to unite in an effort to prioritise mental health across the city
They'll be discussing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on people's emotional wellbeing
York’s leaders are coming together this week to step up efforts to tackle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on city residents’ mental health.
The City of York Mental Health Summit, to be held online today (Friday, March 26) will see senior leaders from City of York Council, the NHS and the city’s two universities join York MPs Rachael Maskell and Julian Sturdy plus North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan to develop an action plan for the “significant challenges” to come.
The summit has been called by Phil Mettam, NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group’s Accountable Officer, and Tim Madgwick, Independent Chair of York’s Mental Health Partnership, with the aim of encouraging innovation in tackling an expected surge in demand for both children’s and adults’ mental health services as a result of the pandemic.
They said: “Although significant progress has been made in terms of the treatment and prevention of coronavirus, we need to see an equally robust response in terms of the mental health of citizens of all ages.
“The future health and success of York as a city will depend on many things. Neglecting to respond effectively to the mental health situation facing us will leave a future generation with significant challenges.”
Driven by academic predictions that the mental-health impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable will be significant, summit delegates will be tasked with developing high-level strategic plans - and giving their teams permission to act and find solutions.
NHS leaders will attend from NHS Vale of York CCG, mental health services providers Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, along with leading officers and elected members from City of York Council.
Cllr Carol Runciman, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Health and Adults, said: “This summit is a welcome opportunity to gather expertise across the city to address the expected pressures on children’s and adults’ mental health services post-COVID.
“A consultation with York’s residents identified that nearly 50% of residents felt less emotionally healthy as a result of COVID-19 and 57% less optimistic about the future. This prompted the #FeelRealYork campaign to encourage honest conversations on emotional wellbeing and signpost people to resources. I look forward to this opportunity to identify effective and innovative solutions.”
Following a series of presentations from experts, delegates will break off into discussion groups and tasked with formulating plans for the next six months, the next 15 months and the next three years.
Phil Mettam said: “Only by bringing together the people with the power to act now can we ensure we’re in the best possible shape to tackle the psychological legacy of this pandemic.”