Improving mental health in Kent and Medway – your views needed

We all know that if we’re stressed, anxious or depressed, we don’t feel at our best but not everyone realises that there are simple things we can do to promote our own wellbeing.

Now a new strategy is being developed to improve mental health across Kent and Medway.

As well as helping people stay well, it focuses on ensuring that people with mental health needs – which will be one in four of us at some point in our lives – get the care they need.

Lauretta Kavanagh, Director of Commissioning for Mental Health for Kent and Medway, said: “This strategy is about all of us working together as a community to improve mental wellbeing in this area, and to ensure that people who develop mental illness get the care that best meets their needs.

“We hope people will let us know whether they think it covers the right things in the right way and makes the right commitments. Any changes that people suggest will be considered before we publish the final version. I would urge everyone to take a look and let us know your views.”

Live It Well, which covers 2010-2015, sets out a vision for promoting mental health and well-being, intervening early and providing personal care when people develop problems, and focusing on helping people to recover.

In particular, it makes 10 commitments for the next five years, including:

• ensuring organisations work closely together to improve mental health and wellbeing
• reducing the number of people with common mental health problems 
• ensuring people have easy access to care in a crisis
• giving people more say and more choice about their care
• reducing the number of suicides
• improving care for people with mental health needs and drug/alcohol problems

It was developed by the mental health commissioners for Kent and Medway (the three primary care trusts and the two social care directorates), with people who use services, family carers, health and social professionals, voluntary organisations and others.

The consultation period for the strategy has now closed, and we are waiting for the final version to be published. However, you can still let us know what you think of the strategy here at Live It Well by emailing info@liveitwell.org.uk