Supporting mental wellbeing

All of us experience mental health issues at some point during our lives; for some of us these become long periods of mental ill health and for some mental illness is a chronic impairment that can be as disabling as any physical disability.

The NHS is the main body responsible for commissioning of local health services for mental health conditions. These include general practice, talking therapy (IAPT), and more specialist mental health services. In Birmingham mental health specialist services are provided by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. You can access these services through your GP or in some cases you can self-refer for talking therapy support.

Although the council isn’t responsible for mental health clinical services, the council has a duty to consider how it can make reasonable adjustment in the ways we deliver services to support people living with long term mental health conditions, just like any other disability. If you are affected like this and need some additional help with access council services because of your mental health then do let us know by contacting customer services.

The council has a responsibility to improve the mental wellbeing of the population as well as its physical health and wellbeing,. This means the focus of the council is more on action that helps people to stay mentally well, rather than treating them when they become unwell. The council has established a sub-group of the Health and Wellbeing Board to lead this work through the Creating a Mentally Healthy City Forum.

At a very strategic level the council is doing this through ensuring that we invest in building healthy homes, creating cohesive communities, and supporting life-long learning so that every citizen can achieve their potential and thrive in the city.

At a more individual level the research shows there are five key ways that individuals have help improve wellbeing and increase mental wellness, these are called the Five Ways to Wellbeing.