Integrating mental health support

We know from our experience delivering support to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities that social factors, such as loss of income, employment or housing, can be a huge driver of mental health need.

And if problems such as debt, financial insecurity, difficulties with benefits or the threat of homelessness aren’t addressed, people’s mental health will often get worse.

Community-based services like Live Well Kent & Medway are using a broader approach to mental health need, as well as targeting resources in the most deprived areas of the county.

By bringing together the wide-ranging talents and skills of the voluntary sector, we tailor support to an individual’s situation and meet a range of complex needs in one place.

As the cost of living crisis intensifies and vulnerable people face bigger struggles to survive, reducing the impact of the social causes of mental illness is more important than ever.

Changes to health and social care, including mental health transformation and the new integrated care systems (ICS), are placing new emphasis on addressing the social determinants of health.

Within the ICS there’s also strong commitment to reducing long-standing health inequalities and doing more to prevent ill health in the first place.

It’s early days but like other integrated care systems across the country, Kent & Medway has been given the flexibility to develop arrangements that respond to local need and build on existing strengths.

It's good to see plans are focused on getting the best from collective resources and we’re pleased that the importance of the voluntary sector is being recognised.

Because the voluntary sector has much to offer, including our knowledge of local communities, our ability to build relationships with marginalised groups and our flexible and responsive workforce.

During the pandemic, we demonstrated our value as part of the mental health system in Kent and Medway, adapting to the changing needs of Kent communities and supporting people that mainstream services struggled to reach.

There’s a lot the ICS can take from developments within Kent & Medway community mental health transformation. Organisations are working together to provide a more flexible and accessible service, with the voluntary sector contributing as an equal alongside secondary care, primary care, community and social care partners.

However, the local system still faces a number of challenges.

National workforce shortages within the health and social care system are a significant barrier in its ability to strengthen services and work differently.

At the same time, the impact of the pandemic has seen an increase in the need for mental health support for some groups, and widening mental health inequalities.

We know that integrating support and harnessing the strengths of the voluntary sector leads to better outcomes. Evaluation of our Live Well Kent and Medway service showed us that the experience for people is better when you join up the system around their needs.

We also know from feedback and our engagement work that people are less interested in who supports them, instead focusing on how easily they can access support and the qualities and approach of the person working with them.

Our Live Well Kent & Medway service was designed to build links between the voluntary sector and statutory organisations. Six years on, it’s showing how integrated approaches and leveraging the strengths of the local voluntary sector can support the system and, most importantly, people who need help.

We hope that as ICS and transformation plans continue to evolve, this learning can be used to support greater prevention, improve mental health and tackle inequalities in communities across Kent.

This blog was written by Julia Hargreaves, head of mental health services at Porchlight.