Issue - meetings

The Board received a report of the Interim Director of Public Health, which provided an update on the suicide prevention agenda.

The report discussed:

a)    Public Health England Prevention and Promotion Mental health funding (£270,000) for mitigation against Covid impacts and outcomes achieved;

b)    Champs and the NO MORE Suicide Strategy and outcomes achieved so far;

c)    Core Local Activity – tackling mental health stigma in men with Halton’s Time to Change Hub and the outcomes achieved to date; and

d)    Mental health teams in schools their outcomes achieved to date.

Members discussed the following:

·         Champs funding from the NHS to help with the prevention of suicide amongst children;

·         Staff working closely with schools to give psychological support but this had proved difficult due to lack of funding;

·         Mental health first aid – what to look for.  This was being taught in community venues and to front line staff to educate people to identify the signs of someone suffering with mental health problems; this was supported by social media campaigns; and

·         The Multi Partner Implementation Group in relation to schools – this consisted of educational psychologists and staff from the education and the health implementation teams.

RESOLVED:  That the Board notes the report.