How can we change our perspective on mental health in Kent, Surrey and Sussex?

On 6^th May the South East Coast Strategic Clinical Network (SCN) for Mental Health, Dementia and Neurological Conditions along with NHS England will hold a conference called Valuing mental health: A change of perspective in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. I was delighted to be invited to speak on the day as parity of esteem is such an important issue for mental health services in the new NHS landscape. The aims and objectives of the conference are admirable, and I was pleased to see that the event is not designed to be just another ‘talking shop’ – it is genuinely focussed on outcomes and action.

The event aims to bring together patients, the public, healthcare professionals, voluntary organisations and other partners in order to rethink the way we address mental health problems in the region, to encourage integrated working in the delivery of mental health services. I really believe our services should be based around an understanding of the underlying causation and the needs of patients and their carers rather than on our historical understanding of mental health. Modern neuroscience has taught us so much about the interaction of mind and body and we also are much clearer about the role of genetics, environment and social factors in health so it makes sense to rethink our services and approach to prevention.

The SCN want the conference to embed the need to achieve parity of esteem between mental health services and those traditionally designed to focus on “physical” conditions amongst delegates so that they can collectively contribute to achieving this goal. They are also hoping to highlight the need to treat individuals in a more holistic way so delegates can apply this to their work.

Even more specifically, the conference is going to generate ideas for the development of two to five year strategies for improving mental health    across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The plan is to achieve this by using the event to reach agreement on the main challenges which might prevent achieving parity of esteem for mental health and generating ideas about how these challenges can be addressed.

It’s this part that has really got me thinking about what parity of esteem means to me and what we will need to do to realise it in the South East Coast area. I agree with the NHS England vision that describes parity of esteem:

“My family and I all have access to services which enable us to maintain both our mental and physical wellbeing. If I become unwell I use services which assess and treat mental health disorders or conditions on a par with physical health illnesses.”

But this doesn’t say enough about how we can achieve it.

I agree with Professor Sue Bailey, President, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, when she says in her introduction to the College’s report on parity of esteem when she says “parity is essentially a mindset”. I think we need to stop thinking of mental health services as a separate silo to physical health services. We know that mental health problems are increasingly common, and we know that people with long term physical conditions are likely to have mental health problems. But it goes beyond recognising that people who are physically unwell are likely to have mental health problems, it’s about creating systems that work together seamlessly for patients, and it’s about working to identify and appropriately treat mental ill health in the same way we do for physical ill health. It’s about increasing the status of mental health so that it is as shocking to leave a person with depression or schizophrenia untreated as it would be to leave someone with cancer untreated. Everyone working in, and with, the NHS needs to stop thinking of mental health as somehow separate to physical health. Health professionals, service users and voluntary organisations and must work together to realise the changes we want to see.

The conference on 6^th May will be an exciting step for the South East Coast, and I am confident that those of you attending will come with the drive and enthusiasm to share your ideas and then take forward the actions agreed on the day.

Dr Catherine Kinane, is Clinical Director of South East Coast Strategic Clinical Network for Mental Health, Dementia and Neurological Conditions.