Projects launched to improve mental health in Calderdale

Calderdale Council’s Adults Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board considered initiatives developed over the last 18 months.

The Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is leading two key pieces of work with partners to improve care and support for people with mental health problems.

In the field of rehabilitation and recovery, they are working with the council, the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the Richmond Fellowship and Healthy Minds to improve the pathway for people undergoing rehabilitation after stepping down from acute or secure services, helping them by supporting them to return to a community setting that is the least restrictive and meets their needs.

And the CCG and partners are undertaking a review of psychological services, the next stage of which, following extensive engagement with patients earlier this year to find out about their experiences using services, will focus on using information gained to develop ideas for improving services and support as well as establishing a “best practice” guide.

Others initiatives include the CCG’s commissioning of Kooth, an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for young people, establishment of the Open Minds website for young people, parents, carers and professionals in Calderdale, and work undertaken by Calderdale Safespace, which opened in February this year and provides a place of safety for people experiencing mental distress or an approaching crisis.

It also heard about NHS England’s commissioning of an adult eating disorder service from Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust which has three components specific to Calderdale, and the CCG’s providing funding for a consultant psychiatrist to work with the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s home care liaison team to provide specialist input into the care of older people with mental health problems.

Board members also heard about improvements for mental health patients at The Dales Unit and Calderdale Royal Hospital.