BBC News - People asked to blog about their mental health illness

BBC News - People asked to blog about their mental health illness - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29861510 - 'I blogged my way to mental health' - Video

'People with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or schizophrenia are being asked to write about their lives online.
The idea is that the blogs will make it easier for others to spot the signs of mental illness.
One in four people in England will suffer from a mental health issue in any given year.
Leah Boleto reports.'

Related Stories

BBC News - Movember founder: Movember turns its attention to men's mental health - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29841063 - Mental health Movember

The 1% Spent On Mental Health That Should Be A 'Warning' To Us All - http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10/28/mental-health_n_6060350.html?utm_hp_ref=twvia @HuffPostUK

Councils spend less than 1.5% on mental health, charity finds - http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/28/mind-charity-mental-health-council-spending-less-than-1-point-5-per-cent?CMP=twt_gu via @guardian - Mind charity

BBC News - Public mental health spending in England too low, says Mind - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29792386 - Local authorities spend "unacceptably low"

BBC News - Tackling soldiers' mental trauma after Afghanistan duty - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29740410 - BBC Inside Out - impact of Afghanistan conflict

BBC - Sport scheme to help people with mental health problems unveiled - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29679101 - run by charity Mind-funding from Sport England

Government will continue to fund the Time to Change campaign for a further year - http://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/government-will-continue-to-fund-the-time-to-change-campaign-for-a-further-year/#.VDkGgGddV1V - MIND - Posted on 10/10/2014

Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Wellbeing and Mental Health Engagement Event - Notes

Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Wellbeing and Mental Health Engagement Event

Peter Hale

Tuesday 21 October – Bristol

Health Protection and Health Improvement – Public Health hasn’t embraced Mental Health Agenda – Needs improvement for Parity of Esteem – Premature Mortality. Unless more input won’t get the benefit of improved public health. What would help to improve mental health? Learning and listening, what can Public Health England do to support communities, how can they help local communities and organisations. Some of measurements and terminology can get in the way. Significant challenges. Don’t want to see silo approaches between Mental Health and Physical Health.

In my opinion why no-one here from DWP, ATOS etc, Work Programme etc?

So much work on mental illness but need for more on mental health and mental illness, stigma, and physical health and joining up physical and mental health. Some progress in last two decades but not enough, for parents, schools, workplaces, needs more work, policy advocacy. Encouraging evidence on what to do. Growing examples of good practice in local communities. Desire for more integrated approaches. Still pejorative discussion of mental illness and cost. Not acceptable to talk of financial ‘burden’ of mental illness to country. Can people with mental health issues get work, be free of discrimination, companionship, freedom from debt. Compelling story for how and why to improve mental health – evidence base. Separates mind from body, lack of co-ordination, lack of implementation of policies to improve mental health. Next 18 months will be a lot of discussion, local needs assessments, strategic plans, co-ordination, must include agenda for mental health. Must engage with community. Public Health England PHE has priorities – mental health and illness to be included as part of all strategies.

Public Health England (PHE) Action in Public Health

Things like Mental Health First Aid Programme, annual summits, progress and approach for 2020.

Immediate plans for more emphasis on prevention of mental health issues to be embedded in services. Key programme areas for service user involvement.

October 29^th wellbeing – Gus O’Donnell to Launch in morning Employment and Learning, Exercise, Art. Independent report – CMO report: Public Health England (PHE) reflections – Use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework.

Later – Happy City Bristol Launch.

Keynote Session 2

What is wellbeing – mental health – Why is it important?

Issues

This statement is untrue – ‘Mental illness population affects a well defined group discrete from the rest of us.’ of the – This does not accord with the facts.

Dual Continuum Model – To address wellbeing as well as illness.

Mind and body are one system - Descartes was wrong!

Autonomic Nervous System

Fight or Flight (or Freeze)

Systems approach needed and plan.

Need to invest in many places.

I raised issue of Public Health Ringfence. Answer from Public Health England that councils must embed mental health investment within their spending. What are the needs of the community?

Keynote Session 3

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) – I’ve done this training and many other people I know

Prevention not cure – Diminishing resources

Paramount to –

a)      Educate ourselves

b)      Empower individuals to spread message

c)       Collate robust evidence

Hard to get funding for things that aren’t evidence based. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) has evidence. Includes supporting employers to promote workplace wellbeing, and help staff to cope. Help to lessen stress at work. What would you do if someone is in a mental health crisis?

Imagine a workplace without physical fist aid?!

Health professionals still need MHFA.

Still lots of stigma and discrimination.

1/3 of GPs have never had mental health training but 1/3 of patients visit because of their mental health issues.

5 ways to wellbeing

Question from service user whether DWP will offer MHFA to people who are claimants.

Question about keeping stress management within workplace ongoing – champion in Workplace to ensure MHFA is ongoing.

Assist ASIST - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - See more at: http://www.elament.org.uk/training/asist-applied-suicide-intervention-skills-training.aspx#sthash.mN5zlIkR.dpuf

Workshop Discussion

Separated into tables for different areas (2 for Bristol)

Bristol tables - requested more accountability on spending (Councils’ Public Health, and Public Health England). More voluntary sector and service user involvement, and joining up of services. Also role of sports, exercise, faith and community groups in promoting good mental health. Asset rather than deficit approach looking at what we have. Need resources for mental wellness, not just illness. The point was made that points such of this were made some time ago, progress? Importance of getting in early for children’s mental health. MHFA is a good example – LIFT Psychology works well but not for all people. Happy City works well with some people, but some people miss out. Reframing narrative – including people with lived experience. Talking to people with mental health issues – what goes well? Evidence base – need for models that aren’t just numbers based, as mental health is complex. Issue of tendering being competitive, does that encourage collaboration?

South Gloucestershire table – raised issue of joined up services, and services for young people.

Other tables – discussions – shifting conversation from – things can’t be done for lack of money to identifying what community assets are already available. Issue of 7 minute GP appointments. Employers need to be at forums like this.

Relevant News Stories

BBC News - Public mental health spending in England too low, says Mind - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29792386 - Local authorities spend "unacceptably low"

Councils spend less than 1.5% on mental health, charity finds - http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/28/mind-charity-mental-health-council-spending-less-than-1-point-5-per-cent?CMP=twt_gu via @guardian - Mind charity

Munch and the Balloon - Children's story with a message of tolerance

Once upon a Munch Time, there was a cow called Munch. Today was Munch’s birthday, soon after Christmas. Munch the cow had a party with Robbie the Robin and Sally the Squirrel, and all the other cows and pigs and sheep. One of these was a shiny blue balloon with ‘Happy Birthday Munch the cow’ written on it in nice shiny orange writing. The balloon was on a string.

Munch was grateful for the balloon and all the other presents.  Munch the cow stood on the string and enjoyed tapping the balloon with her nose. But Munch enjoyed this game so much that she let go of the balloon. Her hooves did not hold the string well. Munch could only hold wider things like books. That caused Munch to lose the balloon.

The balloon floated up and the string got stuck around a high up door handle. The balloon was stuck in the window of the barn. Munch the cow cried. She could still see the balloon but could not get it. This gave her hope of getting the balloon, but no way of reaching it.

Sally the squirrel said to the cow, “why don’t you climb and get the balloon”, but Munch could not climb.

Robbie the Robin said “why don’t you fly up and get the balloon”, but Munch could not fly.

Munch the cow cried and cried. She knew the animals were trying to help but she could not do these things. She felt sad.

Then Robbie the Robin said “I will fly up and get the balloon”. Robbie was good at flying. Robbie was good at flapping against the balloon to knock the balloon free from the window. Robbie was good at picking things up with his beak. But when Robbie picked up the string and tried to fly down he could not, as the string was still stuck around the handle.

Robbie felt bad because he couldn’t get the balloon, Robbie cried.

But then Sally the squirrel said “I can’t fly but I can climb and chew”. So Sally climbed to get her teeth into the string. Robbie kept hold of the string at the top. When Sally chewed through, the balloon came free. Robbie flew down with the balloon.

The animals felt good. They all cheered and barked and mooed and chirped and squeaked.

Munch the cow felt better but was still worried because she had hooves. Though she felt better that she could not fly, she still felt bad that she could not hold the string.

The farmer looked out the window to see what had happened. The farmer was pleased the animals were having fun.

Colin the Collie had an idea, he ran under a gap in the hedge to get the farmer to ask him to help.

The farmer wanted to help Munch the cow. The farmer has hands so can hold things. So the farmer tied the balloon string around a little post.

Then Munch felt better and the farmer felt better, and all the animals felt better because the farmer had helped.

Munch the cow felt better but was still a bit unhappy. As the other animals could all do useful things and the Munch could not do any of these things so well. Munch wanted to do something but could not fly or climb or hold things, or run through the little gap in the hedge.

Munch did not feel like doing her game again. But then Munch thought of something she could do and the farmer realised how he could help.

The farmer liked Robbie the Robin but did not like that Robbie often flew in the window of the barn and pecked at the milk bottles. The farmer did not like telling Robbie off though.  The farmer wanted to help Munch and Munch wanted to help Robbie the robin and the other animals. With the farmers help, Munch was milked and this meant everyone could have milk.

The farmer had lots of nuts left over from Christmas and gave this to Sally the squirrel. This helped Sally to eat her favourite food and snuggle indoors for the cold winter.

The farmer and Munch put some of her milk every day in a bowl near the post. This meant that all the animals that liked milk had milk every day. Robbie the Robin did not need to peck the bottles in the window . Robbie drank from the bowl instead.

And Munch the cow had lots of company who all joined her game, and they all had fun every day. They all felt good that they all knew how to do things and how to help each other.

Time to Change at St Pauls Carnival - Bristol

My Blog Post on the Time to Change Blog - https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/blog/time-change-st-pauls-carnival-bristol - https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/blog/time-change-st-pauls-carnival-bristol

I’m a Time to Change Champion who has mental health issues; all our champions either have or have had mental health issues. This makes us ideally placed to talk about them. This is why we volunteer.St Paul’s Carnival Promotes participation in the Education and Appreciation of African and Caribbean Arts and Culture. Time...

https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/blog/time-change-st-pauls-carnival-bristol - September 30th 2014 - from this Summer

World Mental Health Day will take place on 10 October 2014 - http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/world-mental-health-day/ - raising awareness about mental health

What's going on near you? Time to Change Events - Time to Change events in 2014 - http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/take-action/events-search

Benefits Street - My Complaints to Channel 4 and Ofcom - Judge for yourself

Ofcom has found against all 887 complaints to it about Benefits Street - Channel 4 and Love Productions Benefit Shaming Programme (BBC article link below). Still people have made their views clear by making by making the Programme makers unwelcome all over England. A finding in their favour by TVs' equivalent of the weak and biased PCC (Press Complaints Commission) doesn't represent a clean bill of health. Whether or not they broke Ofcom rules the Programme was poor quality, upsetting for many participants and residents, and biased. I don't believe there was sufficient protection for mental and physical wellbeing of participants and residents. Authorities continue to allow routine abuse by organisations' of people's mental wellbeing. Hence, for all those reasons it is unwelcome, I think this kind of Programme is also going out of fashion.

Benefits Street not in breach in Ofcom rules - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28086213


My Complaint to Ofcom - 25th January 2014

Programme title:
    Benefits Street

Date and time of broadcast(e.g. 01 January 2009 23:00):
    06 January 21:00

Channel / station:
    Channel 4

Subject:
    Wellbeing of participants, respect communication

Description (please use 1500 characters or less):
    From email to Ch4
I have emailed 3 times to channel 4 - the last email below to channel 4 summarises my concerns
Residents in Safehouses?
The lax attitude in this email in reply to me is the reason you are having to make special precautions to protect residents.
But you are still stirring hatred. Statements such as Children are everywhere! - said in a judgmental way incite hatred.
You keep showing the programme, putting Twitter Hashtag before every break, and without any warning to people about acceptable conduct re: twitter threats.
Warnings need to be made in a similar way to when news warned amateur photographers not to get close to the sea during storms. Omitting such warnings is irresponsible to the victims of twitter abuse, and to those who post improper content.
I note that the allegations giving unhealthy food and drink to residents to take part continue. This amongst press and media that are no more nor less reliable than channel 4. Further there are allegations of abuse against local primary school children and adults by poverty tourists.
You say that the team built strong relationships with the community, but many have appeared on BBC and other media such as London radio, complaining that they were misrepresented. So at least some of the relationships have broken down. Yet those people are still in the programme edited in such a way that may be out of context and cause upset.

My email to Channel 4 -

Dear ****

You say that the team built strong relationships with the community, but many have appeared on BBC and other media such as London radio, complaining that they were misrepresented. So at least some of the relationships have broken down. Yet those people are still in the programme and edited in such a way that may be out of context and cause upset.

Your reply shows no experties on mental nor physical health and wellbeing, and I find it to be of below professional quality, leaving many questions as to the steps taken to ensure welfare of participants and other residents unanswered.

sincerely

Dr Peter Hale



My Email to Channel 4 - 25th January 2014

Residents in Safehouses?

Dear ****

The lax attitude in this email in reply to me is the reason you are having to make special precautions to protect residents.

But you are still stirring hatred. Statements such as "Children are everywhere!" said in a judgemental way (if you don't believe me replay it) incite hatred.

You keep showing the programme and putting the Twitter Hashtag before every break, and without any warning to people about acceptable conduct re: twitter and threats.

I'm not saying that programmes should normally be cancelled or edited, nor that twitter warnings normally be put out, but this is an exception.

Warnings need to be made in a similar way to when news warned amateur photographers not to get close to the sea during storms. Omitting such warnings is irresponsible to the victims of twitter abuse, and to those who post improper content.

I note that the allegations giving unhealthy food and drink to residents to take part continue. This amongst press and media that are no more nor less reliable than channel 4. Further there are allegations of abuse against local primary school children and adults by poverty tourists.

You say that the team built strong relationships with the community, but many have appeared on BBC and other media such as London radio, complaining that they were misrepresented. So at least some of the relationships have broken down. Yet those people are still in the programme and edited in such a way that may be out of context and cause upset.

Your reply shows no experties on mental nor physical health and wellbeing, and I find it to be of below professional quality, leaving many questions as to the steps taken to ensure welfare of participants and other residents unanswered.

sincerely

Dr Peter Hale

Channel 4 Reply 15th Jan 2014

Dear Dr Hale,

Thank you for contacting Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries regarding BENEFITS STREET.

In response to the queries posed in your email, both Channel 4 and Love Productions, the production company responsible for the series, strongly refute any suggestion that scenes have been set up or produced in any way or that any contributors were given bribes, gifts or other inducements to ensure the filming of them.This is a strictly observational documentary series made by an experienced team and filmed following strict protocols in accordance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

Furthermore, we take participant welfare extremely seriously. During the time that the series was developed, a period of 2 years and filmed over 12 months, the team built strong relationships with the community. The contributors were briefed extensively before any filming took place and have been given support all the way through the process, members of the production team having been in daily contact with them. In addition,we have offered advice to contributors on how to ensure their security on social media and remain in contact with both residents and police to ensure their welfare.

We hope the above allays any concerns you may have, however please be assured that your comments have been logged and noted for the information of those responsible for our programming.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise.

Regards,

*****
Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries

My Email -  10th Jan 2014

Dear ****

This is a standardised reply. I SPECIFICALLY asked what Channel 4 is doing re: its duty of care over the welfare of participants who are upset and getting death threats. As an expert in this area I want to ensure that you are catering for their needs so that their health is not affected.

Please answer my question.

sincerely

Dr Peter Hale

Channel 4 Reply - 10th Jan 2014

Dear Mr Hale,

Thank you for your email regarding the recent programme, Benefits Street.  

This is an observational documentary series following the lives of those living in a particular area of Birmingham, where the majority of households receive benefits.  The premise of the series is to offer an insight into their lives.   We believe the films show how people in diminished circumstances cope with the current climate of austerity and cuts in benefits and how the residents? community spirit comes to the fore in times of need.

We believe the programme and series is a fair and balanced portrayal of life on James Turner St for those contributors featured. The series is not, was never intended to be and indeed could not be a general representation of the vast numbers of people in the UK who, for whatever reason,  find themselves, for all sorts of reasons, having  to rely on benefits.

We appreciate you taking the time to write to us with your comments which have been logged for the information of those responsible for the programme.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise.

Regards, 

****

Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries

Health Inequality - Why Bristol must improve services for Physical and Mental Health

Mental Health is a Protected Characteristic so Councils have a Duty of Care to this population.

JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment) and other guidance requires councils to fund or obtain funding for exercise for mental health, even the current Government policy is 'No Health Without Mental Health'. Equality of access to people with mental health issues and barriers to access to physical exercise is a right.

This applies also to people with other illnesses and disabilities, and for other services also where people have a specialist need.

Relevant policies -

"Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)
    To improve and protect health and wellbeing outcomes across the city while reducing health inequalities

Health and Wellbeing Board
    A duty to consult service users and the public.

WAYS OF WORKING (Supplement to the Terms of Reference agreed at Full Council in May 2013)

2. Functions of the Board - in summary    

2.4. Communicate and engage with Bristol communities.  See Section 6 below.  A duty to involve users and the public in the JSNA and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS).

3. Identifying needs and priorities

3.1 Ensure that the JSNA is refreshed, using a variety of tools, evidence and data, including user experience to support this process.

3.3 Reach a shared understanding of the health needs, inequalities and risk factors in local populations, based on the JSNA and other evidence, and demonstrate how this evidence has been applied to decisions and strategic priorities.
4. Strategy
4.1. The Board will develop, publish and refine a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy which sets out objectives, a rate of improvement for health and wellbeing outcomes, including reduction in health inequalities, and how stakeholders will be jointly held to account for delivery.

6. Patient and Public Involvement

6.1. The Board has a duty placed on it to involve patients and the public in both the JSNA and JHWS.

6.2. The Board will aim to deliver this duty in a meaningful way.  Realistic and practical mechanisms to deliver this duty will be developed in conjunction with the development of HealthWatch."

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) - The health and wellbeing of Bristol - http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/adult-care-and-health/joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna

Health and Wellbeing Board - Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy - 

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/council-and-democracy/health-and-wellbeing-board

Bristol City Council leaves £700,000 Public and Mental Health money unspent - FOI

Dear Mr Hale

We write in response to your requests for information received here on 31 March 2014. For your reference your requests for information are in bold below and our responses follow.

Please answer the questions below, as required under the Freedom of Information Act

Answer for first three questions is the same and the budget is set to be the same as the grant funding.

What is the Bristol City Council Public Health Budget for the last spending year, this spending year and next spending year?

2012-13 there was no ring fenced budget

2013 -14 Ring fenced public health grant for Bristol is £27,312,500

2014-15 Ring fenced public health grant for Bristol is £29,122,300

What is the Bristol City Council Public Health Ring fenced Budget for the last spending year, this spending year and next spending year?

See above

What is the Bristol City Council Mental Health Ring fenced Budget for the last spending year, this spending year and next spending year.

2012 13 no budget

2013/14 budget for Mental Health was £650,754

2014/15 the contractual/pay budget spend will be the same, but non-pay expenditure may change (up or down) according to new priorities

How much of the current spending years' public health budget remains unspent?

£658,930 remains unspent from 2013-14 budget

How much of the current spending years' mental health budget remains unspent?

£48,568 – underspend due to staff secondment and reduction in hours (staffs request not service decision)

How many Public Health posts have been frozen?

None

How many Ring fenced Public Health posts have been frozen?

None

How many Public Health posts have been reduced in terms of hours per week?

None

How many Ring fenced Public Health posts have been reduced in terms of hours per week?

One post was reduced by 0.5 wte this year, due to  personal request  not a service decision.

How many Mental Health posts have been frozen?

None

How many Ring fenced Mental Health posts have been frozen?

None

How many Mental Health posts have been reduced in terms of hours per week?

One  post was reduced by 0.5 wte this year, due to  personal request  not a service decision

How many Ring fenced Mental Health posts have been reduced in terms of hours per week?

None

Are there any plans to cut funding and/or freeze posts for Smoking Cessation Services?

The proposed structure has shown no plans to reduce posts.  We have reduced the Smokefree South West Contract, but that is a decision made across south west and with that organisation.

Are there any plans to cut funding and/or freeze posts for Mental Health Services?

No

Are there any plans to cut funding and/or freeze posts for Sport Exercise for Mental Health Services?                                                                                                                                                                         

This is not a public health funded area

How many staff hours per week were/are assign for direct work on Bristol Active Life Project for the last spending year, this spending year and next spending year?

This is not a public health funded area

Given the mayors' promise that if the reorganisation affected any services Bristol City Council would undertake a consultation into resolving these effects, what plans are there for that consultation?

We have no current  plans which would affect services at the moment, but will adhere to necessary consultation requirements if plans change

How much Contigency fund money has or is being spent on re-organisation (including redundancy (compulsory or voluntary) payments and any other related costs)?

No Public Health grant funding has been used to fund re-organisation

How much Contigency fund money has or is being spent on redundancy (compulsory or voluntary) payments and any other related costs)?

Not applicable as no public health staff have been made redundant

On behalf of

Freedom of Information Team