At the meeting of the Council held on 6 July 2015 (minute 64 refers), the attached Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor T Anderson and seconded by Councillor L Rennie was referred by the Mayor to this Committee for consideration.

In accordance with Standing Order 7 (6), Councillors Anderson and Rennie had been invited to attend the meeting in order for them to be given an opportunity to explain the Motion.

The Chair advised that at the meeting of the Council held on 6 July 2015 (minute 64 refers), the following Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor T Anderson and seconded by Councillor L Rennie was referred by the Mayor to this Committee for consideration.

In accordance with Standing Order 7 (6), Councillor Anderson had been invited to attend the meeting in order for him to be given an opportunity to explain the Motion. In accordance with Standing Order 7 (5), any recommendation from the Committee in relation to the Notice of Motion would be referred to the Council. Any debate at Council should take place upon the recommendation of the Committee and there should be no separate debate upon the motion itself.

Councillor Anderson asked the Committee to support the Motion in relation to the Mental Health Challenge and support the appointment of an elected member to act as ‘mental health champion’ across the Council.

Members gave their full support to the Motion and indicated that they felt this would go some way in bringing services together to support Mental Health.

The Director of Adult Services reported that at a recent stakeholder event, partners looked at the Mental Health Strategy as part of the whole health and wellbeing agenda and felt that this was a strong challenge and that the 10 key challenges needed to happen in a broader approach not just mental health.

A Member asked for clarification as to who would be responsible for appointing an appropriate ‘Champion’.

MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE

Council notes that:

(1)   mental health is becoming an increasing concern, with one in five people having a mental health condition at any one time.

(2)   only a quarter of people with a mental health condition receive any treatment for it.

(3)   mental ill-heath has economic and social cost of £105bn a year, accounting for 28% of the total burden of disease but only 13% of NHS spending.

(4)  mental health provision is not just about supporting those with the most severe conditions but providing an integrated and holistic support to the community.

Furthermore, Council notes the excellent initiative of several leading mental health charities in developing the “Mental Health Challenge” and the resources they are giving to local authorities.

Council therefore resolves to take on the mental health organisations challenge by:

(a)   Appoint an elected member as ‘mental health champion’ across the Council.

(b)   Identify a lead officer for mental health to link in with colleagues across the Council.

(c)   Follow the implementation framework for the mental health strategy where it is relevant to the Council’s work and local needs.

(d)   Work to reduce inequalities in mental health in our community.

(e)   Work with the NHS to integrate health and social care support.

(f)   Promote wellbeing and initiate and support action on public mental health for example through our joint health and wellbeing strategy.

(g)   Tackle discrimination on the grounds of mental health in our community.

(h)   Encourage positive mental health in our schools, colleges and workplaces.

(i)   Proactively engage and listen to people of all ages and backgrounds about what they need for better mental health.

(j)   Sign up to the Time to Change pledge.

RESOLVED:

That the Council be advised that the Families and Wellbeing Policy and Performance Committee fully supports the Notice of Motion in relation to the Mental Health Challenge.