Good Mental Health holds the key to long term wellbeing

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has brought together experts from across the whole field of Mental Health in a thought provoking seminar on the role of Mental Health in the New Public Health System.

The passing of the Health and Social Care Act, the drive towards localism, and the Government’s approach to improving the population’s health through promotion of preventative measures, have begun to place mental health in the spotlight. 

The purpose of the seminar was to examine the impact of mental health on public health and wellbeing and its place within public health policy. The evidence shows that mental health and overall wellbeing can no longer be treated as separate challenges; they are closely interlinked and poor mental health affects a wide range of social and broader health issues.

The panel of speakers brought together statistics to show how poor Mental Health affects communities, and encouraging examples of effective methods and guidance tools, being used to assess the impact of change on the mental wellbeing of all stakeholders. 

Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive of RSPH commented, “Mental health must be a top priority for Health and Wellbeing Boards.  Poor mental health has a huge impact on local communities and is a heavy cost to the NHS and local authorities.  The RSPH is delighted to have run a seminar designed to improve the effectiveness of local mental health strategies. We believe that positive changes can be achieved by sharing good practice and better collaboration between local councils, Third Sector organisations, and the NHS".

The speakers at the seminar included Professor Lord Patel of Bradford, Gregor Henderson, advisor to the Department of Health England on Mental Health and Wellbeing, Dr Jonathan Campion, Consultant Psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Tony Coggins, Head of Mental Health Promotion at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Graham Rushbrook FRSPH and Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive of RSPH.

If you would like more information on the seminar, please contact Nelly Araujo at RSPH.

Email naraujo@rsph.org.uk or telephone 020 7265 7322.

Lets Talk about Sex-ual Health!

In the recent White Paper "Healthy Lives, Healthy People" the Government highlighted the need for children’s health and well-being to be put high on the public health agenda.  It stated that teenagers and young people are among the biggest lifestyle risk-takers and as a consequence the White Paper flagged up that the rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) such as Chlamydia have continued to rise since the 1990's with 15-24 year olds being the most affected group.

Facts for Thought:

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) compiled a report in 2008 called "Sexually Transmitted Infections and Young People in the United Kingdom".  It found that young people account for nearly half of all the STIs diagnosed in the UK despite representing only 12% of the population.  The statistics showed that they account for 65% of all Chlamydia, 50% of genital warts and 50% of gonorrhoea infections diagnosed in genitourinary medicine clinics across the UK in 2007.
The most common STI is genital Chlamydia with 79,557 diagnoses made in 2007 (1,102 per 100,000 population aged 16-24), a rise of 7% since 2006.  High rates were also reported for genital warts (682 per 100,000), a rise of 8% since 2006.  In addition in 2007, 702 young people were diagnosed with HIV, representing 11% of all new HIV diagnoses.

Although increases in STIs may reflect greater ascertainment of cases through rises in testing and improved diagnostic methods, it also indicates increased unsafe sexual behaviour among young people.

The NusringTime.Net published an article at the end of last year, explaining that the worrying rises in STIs is the result of a lack of knowledge and misconceptions about sexual infection and reproductive health.  The study "The Face Of Global Sex 2010: They won’t know unless we tell them" found a high level of ignorance about STIs across Europe.  
The Study was the Fifth in the Durex Network's research series and involved more than 15,000 people aged between 15 to 20 in 15 European countries.  As well as the UK, some of the countries included Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia and Turkey.  Britons, it was found were worryingly relaxed about their sexual health, with almost eight out of ten young Britons (79.8%) believing they are at little or no risk of contracting STIs.

It is clear, that although efforts have been made to educate young people about the negative effects of having unsafe sex, the message is still not be absorbed and policy makers, schools, local governments still have a huge part to play in reaching out to all young adults.

The 2008 report published by the HPA produced some recommendations including making access easy for young people to sexual health services that can provide screening and treatment of STIs as well as delivering high quality personal, relationship and sexual health education.  

What We Can Do
The RSPH are offering a programme on an "Introduction to Sexual Health and Young People" which is being held on the 10th March in London.  The one day event is designed to give participants the confidence to support the sexual health needs of young people and techniques for incorporating discussion about sex and relationships into their everyday working practice.  The course is for anyone in the voluntary organisation, education or the health and social care sector, with particular responsibility for young people.
For further Information please contact Nicolette Smith or on 020 3177 1625

Article ‘Healthy Lives, Health People: The Strategy for Public Health in England’

Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health has written a paper exploring the potential and challenges that face the implementation of  The White Paper, Healthy Lives, Healthy People.   He addresses the wider social, economic and environmental determinants “The potential is there, but implementation will be the crucial test”.   

Published with permission from http://www.onmedica.com/

Governments come and go, but there are always challenges to public health. The health consequences of modern day society and associated lifestyles, the emergence of new communicable diseases, such as pandemic influenza and HIV, or the re-emergence of those from the past, such as TB, combine to ensure that the need for an effective public health system will always be there. Add to these the growing impact of climate change on population health and it is clear that any government, irrespective of political colour, must keep public health high on the agenda or face the consequences.

The White Paper, Healthy Lives, Healthy People (1), was published by the Coalition Government on 30th November 2010. It sets out a framework for population health, reflecting the three major domains of health protection, health improvement, and the quality of health services provision. It follows the earlier White Paper, published in July 2010 (2), which focuses predominantly on the wider issues of health and social care. The Health Bill to be presented to Parliament in January 2011 will provide the necessary enabling legislation for both White Papers.

Healthy Lives, Healthy People is driven by a philosophy of individual responsibility for health, although it acknowledges the importance of wider social, economic and environmental factors. It acts as the Government’s response to the Marmot Review on the social determinants of health (3), accepting the thrust of Sir Michael’s recommendations. It remains to be seen whether the Government will implement the full range of actions necessary to address the wider social influences on health, given the emphasis on individual responsibility.
To continue reading the article please click here

"Nudging" us to a Healthier Lifestyle

The Government is adopting a new approach to health.  There is to be a move away from direct government intervention, to what is known as the "nudge" approach, in an attempt to make the nation think and act in a healthier way.  

One of the steps being taken is to put councils in charge of encouraging healthier lifestyles, by moving local public health directors out of the NHS and into local government.  It is believed that the wider remit of councils in areas such as housing, leisure and transport, will place them in a stronger position to address health issues such as smoking, drinking and obesity in England.   

The Department of Health's White Paper will also propose creating a new public health service, which will provide advice and support on health protection, treatment and nutrition, as well as setting up a health inclusion unit to ensure measures are in place to tackle health inequalities.  

The public health White Paper will also say the key to encouraging healthier behaviour lies in creating the right environment and then "nudging" people into making different choices.   Signifying a move towards less regulation and creating a climate to encourage healthier behaviour.  Some of the schemes that will be introduced in the new year may include, free vouchers for the gym, incentivising children to walk to school and providing more support to nurses and health visitors to encourage new mothers to breastfeed. 

Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary believes the new system will have a "real impact on improving health"
He added: "Health is not just about the quality of healthcare. It's probably at least as much about the quality of people's lives - the environment, the housing, their education and employment."


To listen to a detailed discussion on the role of the government and the implications of the nudge affect please click here