Health and care partners across Coventry and Warwickshire are marking World Mental Health Day on 10 October, and this year’s theme of ‘Mental Health in an unequal world’, by raising awareness...
Health and care partners across Coventry and Warwickshire are marking World Mental Health Day on 10 October, and this year’s theme of ‘Mental Health in an unequal world’, by raising awareness of mental health inequalities and what people can do to overcome them and improve mental health and wellbeing for everyone.
Health inequalities are avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups of people. They are determined by circumstances largely beyond an individual’s control, such as the conditions in which they live, work, grow and age, which put them at an unfair disadvantage, limiting their opportunities to live longer and healthier lives.
COVID-19 has highlighted how inequalities in our society can have real consequences for people’s health, and data has shown the mental health effects of the pandemic have hit some groups harder than others. There have been changes to society which influence mental health, such as increased unemployment and social isolation. These have impacted on how people access services and has led to a decline in the mental wellbeing of young people and women in particular.
Those with existing long-term physical or mental health conditions, younger people, people who are unemployed, people who identify as LGBTIQ+ and older people have experienced greater declines in their mental and emotional health during the pandemic compared to the general population.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Mental Health Needs Assessment (2021) identified that people living in the 20% most deprived areas were three times more likely to be admitted to hospital with a severe mental illness than people living in the most affluent areas. Asylum seekers are five times more likely to experience mental health issues and people from non-white British ethnicities have lower access rates to support services for common mental health issues. Close to half of people who are homeless and rough sleeping live with a mental health diagnosis and the majority experience mental health difficulties.
There are many things people can do to boost their mental health and emotional wellbeing and support each other. Evidence suggests there are five key things you can do to help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life – connect, keep learning, be active, give and take notice. Find more information and ideas at wellbeing4life.co.uk/5-ways-wellbeing. There are also local services that can provide help and support, find out more at www.dearlife.org.uk.
Knowing others have faced similar struggles can really help people to cope with their own difficulties so we would like to encourage people to be open about their experiences, past or current. The majority of us have likely experienced negative impacts on our wellbeing during the pandemic.
Businesses and organisations across the region can find out what they can do for employees by getting involved with the Build Back Stronger, Build Back Fairer Call to Action. World Mental Health Day is a great time to start by considering how they can help to address health inequalities through their working practices by taking a couple of small actions to reduce health inequalities, including mental and emotional wellbeing.
Employers could see many benefits in helping to tackle these inequalities, including a healthier and more committed workforce, reduced staff turnover, positive relationships being built within communities and enhanced productivity and profitability.
This short video explains why the Call to Action is needed and why it is being supported across Coventry and Warwickshire: CTA video 30:09:21 version
Cllr Margaret Bell portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “The data tells us the pandemic has deepened inequalities across all aspects of health. There are many reasons why these inequalities exist and there is no one solution or one organisation that can solve this alone. It is important now, more than ever, that we all work together to help make a difference to our residents who will be affected most significantly by these inequalities.
“We know that the economy and health are closely linked and that employers can play a vital role in building a stronger and more resilient economy by investing in the health and wellbeing of their employees, local people and communities. I would urge all businesses and organisations to join the Call to Action and consider what commitment they can make to tackling this issue.
“Of course, it’s not just the responsibility of employers; everyone has a role to play in helping to break down the barriers preventing people from accessing support. A great place to start is to be kind to one another, and beyond that take the time to listen, ask if someone is really okay, and if not help them seek the support that they need.”
Coventry City Councillor Kamran Caan, portfolio holder for Public Health and Sport, said:
“There is more need for meaningful support in the community this World Mental Health Day than before because as we’ve navigated the challenges of COVID-19, working to tackle health inequalities has become even more relevant.
“Evidence tells us the pandemic has deepened existing inequalities, particularly with many facing barriers to good health and wellbeing. Over the last 18 months, we have worked closely with our partners and local organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire on initiatives such as the Call To Action campaign. This encourages local businesses to take on one or two actions that will start to combat and tackle existing inequalities. Employment, for example, is majorly important to mental health and to address the social conditions that cause health inequalities.
“During these unprecedented times, it has been vital that we have listened and engaged with our communities to build trust and support in our work to reduce health inequalities. Therefore we are committed to continuing to build strong relationships across our society to reduce health inequalities and increase the availability of mental health support for those in our communities that are struggling.”
For information about a range of mental health and wellbeing services, including face to face, telephone, online and self-help resources available in Coventry and Warwickshire, please visit: www.dearlife.org.uk or for NHS mental health services visit covwarkpt.nhs.uk.
More information about the Call to Action and the steps that employers can take to reduce health inequalities can be found online at https://www.coventry.gov.uk/CallToAction