At the Full Council meeting of 9 December 2015, the Labour Group will be tabling the following motion, asking for support from all members across the political groups, to sign the Local Authorities' Mental Health Challenge and sign up to the Time to Change pledge. It is hoped the irrefutable evidence that mental health is worsening and has a detrimental impact not only to individuals and their families, but the wider community and economy, will galvanise the Council Chamber and find support from all 69 members. Motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14 as to Mental Health
This Council notes that:
- 1 in 6 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
- The World Health Organisation predicts that depression will be the second most common health condition worldwide by 2020.
- Mental ill health costs some £105 billion each year in England alone.
- People with a severe mental illness die up to 20 years younger than their peers in the UK.
- There is often a circular relationship between mental health and issues such as housing, employment, family problems or debt.
This Council believes that:
Kirklees Council has a responsibility to provide support to its citizens across the district and in so doing contribute collectively with other local authorities to address this growing national problem.
As a Local Authority we have a crucial role to play in improving the mental health of everyone in our community and tackling some of the widest and most entrenched inequalities in health.
Mental health should be a priority across all the local authority’s functions, from public health, adult social care and children’s services to housing, planning and public realm.
All Councillors, whether members of the Executive or Scrutiny and in our community and casework roles, can play a positive role in championing mental health on an individual and strategic basis.
This Council resolves:
- To sign the Local Authorities’ Mental Health Challenge run by Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness, Royal College of Psychiatrists and Young Minds.
- To commit within budget and request that where appropriate Cabinet acts to;
- Appoint an Elected Member as ‘mental health champion’ across the Council
- Identify a ‘lead officer’ for mental health to link in with colleagues across the Council
- Follow the implementation framework for the mental health strategy where it is relevant to the Council’s work and local needs
- Work to reduce inequalities in mental health in our community
- Work with the NHS to integrate health and social care support
- Promote wellbeing and initiate and support action on public mental health
- Tackle discrimination on the grounds of mental health in our community
- Encourage positive mental health in our schools, colleges and workplaces
- Proactively engage and listen to people of all ages and backgrounds about what they need for better mental health
- Sign up to the Time to Change pledge.
