Case studies

Local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across London have set up an online platform to provide help and support to people with mental health problems.

Working together with the Samaritan’s Media Advisory Service to monitor local media reporting of suicides and provide training local media organisations to develop postvention reporting as a means of prevention. This case study was done jointly with the National Suicide Prevention Alliance and forms part of our suicide prevention resource.

Mid and South Essex residents who are newly diagnosed with depression can be referred to a ‘Wellbeing Calls’ service which provides additional support in the first few weeks after diagnosis. Delivered by two local voluntary sector partners, the service supported almost 700 people in the year 2022/23.

A Big Lottery funded programme aimed at tackling social isolation has been running in Middlesbrough for the past seven years. It has helped to fund a range of different activities across the borough for the over 50s. To help people access these activities, extra support has been put in place to make it easier for people to get out-and-about by working with public transport providers and businesses to create an age-friendly environment.

An element of drug and alcohol recovery support has been run from a community library since 2019 in Newcastle.

Norfolk has a well-established Healthy Libraries scheme that is having a significant impact on social isolation and loneliness. The library service runs a range of initiatives from singing and colouring groups to a reading project aimed at people who are housebound. They have played a vital role in keeping people living in the large rural county connected both before and during the pandemic.

Response are the largest third sector provider of mental health and wellbeing services tailored to young people in Oxfordshire. In partnership with six voluntary and community sector providers, Response came together to develop the Mental Wealth Academy.

Portsmouth has developed a Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) Strategy for Children and Young People 0-25 for 2020-2023, as part of a set of strategies which make up the Children's Trust Plan.

The Hope service provides psychosocial and practical support for men aged 30–64 who are at risk of suicide, advising them in relation to any money, employment, benefit, or housing problems they may identify.

Reigate and Banstead’s community development workers are a key part of the borough council’s work to tackle social isolation. They are embedded in the community and work with people of all ages, helping establish volunteer networks for older people, intergenerational art and craft groups and activities for teenagers and young people.