Decision details

Each year the Director of Public Health produced an annual report on the health of the population.  This year the report focussed on mental health. The Director of Public Health Annual Report 2022-23 described the factors that supported good mental health, identified groups that were at risk of poorer mental health and made recommendations for the Council and its partners to promote mental health and well-being. The report was a call to action for partners in Buckinghamshire, asking partner organisations to reflect the recommendations in existing multi-agency plans, for the Start Well, Live Well and Age Well Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy.

Mental health was as important as physical health for health and wellbeing. It underpinned people’s ability to build strong relationships, to do well at school or in our jobs, and shaped how people interacted with the world around them. Good mental health often led to better physical health as well as a reduced chance of dying at a younger age.

People in Buckinghamshire generally enjoyed higher levels of good mental health and wellbeing compared with the England average. However, good mental health was not experienced by everyone, and many people experienced periods of poor mental health during their life. Fortunately, there were many things we can do to improve and protect mental health. There were also actions that schools and organisations could take to support the mental health of those who lived, learnt and worked in Buckinghamshire.  These preventative actions were the focus of the 2022-23 annual report.

The report did not consider the different types of mental health conditions, nor did it cover treatment and support for mental illness. These were important subjects that would require a long and detailed report in their own right. Many people with a mental health condition enjoy a good quality of life and many of the preventative actions in the annual report may support them, in addition to formal treatment.  The report further detailed formal research and local data and mentioned that it was not surprising to find a strong overlap between the factors that were important to children and young people and those that were important in adulthood. The things that affected mental health did not change as people grew older. However, two additional factors become important as people aged – the impact of retirement and increased risks of becoming socially isolated.

While the factors for mental health listed could affect everyone, some people in Buckinghamshire were more likely to be vulnerable to poor mental health. National research had demonstrated a link between poverty and mental health, and this was evident in Buckinghamshire.  While not all mental health conditions and disorders could be prevented, individuals could take steps to improve their own mental health by focusing on the protective factors listed in the report.

The report made a number of recommendations regarding actions that schools, Buckinghamshire Council, the local NHS and employers and voluntary sector organisations could take to promote good mental health. These actions are grouped into five areas:
1. Support our children, young people and their families.

2. Encourage lifestyles that protect mental health.

3. Provide opportunities for people to build their social network, learn new skills and give to others.

4. Take action on the things that increase people’s risk of poorer mental health.

5. Encourage open conversations about mental health.

RESOLVED –

That the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023: Mental Health be NOTED, and the Council and partners be recommended to incorporate the actions identified in the Annual Report into existing mental health action plans and the Buckinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy Action Plan.