Plans have been drawn up for tackling Stoke-on-Trent’s growing mental health ‘crisis’. Mental wellbeing is the focus of the new annual report from Stoke-on-Trent’s director of public health Stephen Gunther, with recommendations for individuals, communities and the city council.
Stoke-on-Trent has higher rates of mental ill-health than the country as a whole – a gap that has been widening over the last decade.
Latest figures show that 18.6 per cent of the city’s residents had a diagnosis of depression in 2022/23, compared to a national average of 13.3 per cent. And between 2020 and 2022, there were 16 suicides per 100,000 residents in Stoke-on-Trent, compared to 10.3 per 100,000 across England.
Mr Gunther’s report lists various factors behind Stoke-on-Trent’s mental health problems, such as poor physical health, inadequate housing, high unemployment and increasing levels of debt. While the report does not look at mental heath services, which are beyond its remit, it makes various recommendations for how people and organisations can make a difference in their communities.
Mr Gunther told the city council’s adult social care scrutiny committee that increasing individuals’ awareness of their mental health, promoting healthy eating and physical activity, and organising things like group fitness classes and support networks would help boost Stoke-on-Trent’s mental wellbeing.
He said: “Among the things that came out of last year’s report were issues around mental wellbeing. This year’s report looks at the broader mental wellbeing of the city and makes recommendations. These include things that individuals can do, things that communities can do, and also makes recommendations for the city council.
“The recommendations around individuals are very much based on the ‘five ways to wellbeing’. Also, for communities, it recommends to support and structure that work.
“Our mental wellbeing campaign will focus on broad messages – ‘It’s OK not to be OK’ – and then looking at specific communities where there is a greater prevalence of issues, among young men, for examples. I’m pleased to say we’ll be working with the local football clubs on that as well.”
Councillor Lynn Watkins, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, added: “Understanding the health and wellbeing of our population is vital to ensure appropriate services and support are available so residents’ needs are met. We’ve got lots of things going on in the city, and I’ve been speaking to the director about how we can promote them more. We’ve got 19 community lounges now, we’ve got faith groups that are offering activities like lunches, and libraries are offering lots of activities.
“It is a crisis across the city. I think the director has shown that in his report. People are not feeling happy, they’re not feeling supported. So the more we can get the message across that there are these places available, the better.”
The report recommends that the council works with its partners to sign up to the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health, which it says will strengthen partnership work and provide ‘a holistic approach to positive mental wellbeing’. Another recommendation calls on the council to tackle loneliness by promoting volunteering opportunities and befriending schemes.
Councillor Chandra Kanneganti, who works as a GP, welcomed the focus on mental health, but raised concerns over the long waiting lists currently faced by Stoke-on-Trent residents, such as those experienced by parent waiting for education, health and care plans.
He said: “It is sad to see that we are more depressed, more anxious, and we have higher rates of suicide. It is very depressing to read. So thank you for making mental health a priority for public health.
“There are such a significant gaps in mental health services. Today I had a patient with ADHD who is not able to work, he’s off sick, but he wants a diagnosis so he can get treatment. He got a letter saying he would be seen in 122 weeks. This doesn’t make any sense at all.”
Mr Gunther acknowledged the issue with waiting times, but suggested that improving community wellbeing provision could help relieve some of the pressure on clinical services.