1516-116 Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Promotion Service

Islington Council invites suitable expressions of interest from suppliers for the delivery of a Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Promotion Service which will promote awareness of mental health and mental wellbeing across Islington, challenge the stigma associated with mental illness and increase access to mental health services within identified communities, working with socially excluded communities in Islington, including but not limited to Black and Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BMER) communities.

Current status / Background It is acknowledged that Black and Minority Ethnic groups and refugee communities have particular needs when accessing mental health services.

National policy, including ?No Health without Mental Health? recognised that for some BMER groups the prevalence of mental health conditions is not proportionate to access to services and varies considerably from the general population.

There is a clear need for personalised support for members of these communities.

As well as BMER communities, members from other minority groups have historically been underrepresented in psychological therapy services including: older adults, men, people with sensory needs and Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) groups.

The service will operate as a preventative service by working closely with excluded communities to: ?Raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing, and identify appropriate language to support the reduction of stigma within identified communities. ?Identify key members of identified communities who are willing to act as mental health ?Champions? within their communities, helping to raise awareness within their communities and acting as a key contact, helping to encourage and signpost people to the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Promotion Services in order to support them to access appropriate services at an early stage. ?Identify individuals who may require one-to-one support to overcome any barriers and access appropriate services.

The service will also act as a bridge between these communities, local mental health services and commissioners by transferring information around need and accessibility gathered from their work in these communities back to local mental health services which will enable them to become more responsive and accessible to these communities.

This will help ensure that members of these communities access services at an earlier stage and are prevented from later presenting in crisis after their mental health has further deteriorated.