Debate on improving mental health services for people from black and ethnic minority communities, House of Lords, Tuesday 28 November 2017

Key messages

• Good mental health is essential for a healthy and prosperous society. Councils have a range of statutory duties and non-statutory functions related to mental health and supporting mental wellness. From housing to public health, social care, culture and leisure services, councils lead local services that help prevent mental ill health, support early intervention and provide ongoing support.
• We need to look at how the whole system around mental health works, and could work better. Local government must be at the heart of a new drive to improve our nation’s mental health.
• Figures suggest some black and ethnic minority groups are detained more frequently under the Mental Health Act.
• The independent review of the Mental Health Act is welcome. It is intended to address a number of issues related to improving mental health services for people from BAME communities. Strong local partnerships that bring together health services, councils, communities and other public bodies are key to ensuring everybody is supported to be mentally well and receive timely support.
• English local authorities will have seen reductions of £16 billion to core central government funding during the course of this decade. This is money that councils use to pay for services for their local communities including mental health services.
• Supporting councils to develop appropriate early intervention and mental wellness initiatives in order to prevent poor mental health is more cost-effective than treating serious mental health issues.
• The voluntary and community sector (VCS) are key partners in helping our communities keep mentally well, and in supporting people when they become mentally ill.

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Debate on improving mental health services for people from black and ethnic minority communities, House of Lords, Tuesday 28 November 2017