Background

Good mental health and wellbeing can have a positive impact on relationships, education, training and work. However, a number of factors can impact the way people feel, and it’s important people can get the right help and support.

Creating a good system that works for children, young people and adults is essential to improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes.

On this page you can read how we gathered insights to shape our focus for the next five years.

How we involved people who access mental health services in shaping our Regional Area Plan

We want to ensure people with mental health problems receive the right support, services and information.

In 2022, we held a hack-a-thon which brought together people who access mental health services and professionals. Together they looked at what matters to users of services, and how we can work together to improve health and social care.

During our mental health hack-a-thon, we split everyone into groups to look at:

• Substance misuse
• Loneliness and isolation
• Journey to diagnosis

How can services be improved?

In summary, people who access mental health services would like to see:

• Alcohol free spaces to socialise, including clubs, pubs and places to eat
• A one door approach with access to all services (e.g., someone misusing substances also accessing holistic help)
• Connecting people who feel lonely together: investing in befriending services for all ages, intergenerational hubs
• Using existing community spaces to provide support without the stigma of going to a ‘known’ mental health service
• One team knowing the whole story of the person, working together with the person and for the person