02 March 2015
The review of Jersey's mental health services continues on 3 March 2015 with an engagement day that will give people the chance to share their views on the future of the service.
Representatives from the community and voluntary sectors, together with States of Jersey Departments and invited users of the service and carers will attend the day-long event at the Radisson Blu Hotel to discuss the themes and views gathered during the Mental Health Services Review which began in April 2014.
The aim of the Mental Health Services Review is to provide strategic recommendations for the mental health system that can be used to inform future policy.
Priorities for the future
Work so far has involved canvasing a wide variety of views and looking at what services will be needed and what services are currently provided so that clear priorities for the future can be identified. The review has considered:
- prevention and awareness raising of mental health
- early intervention
- acute care and crisis
- recovery and support
Health and Social Services have worked with community and voluntary sector colleagues including Mind Jersey, Age Concern and the Jersey Alzheimer’s Association throughout the review. The States of Jersey departments that have taken part in the Review include Health and Social Services, Education, Sport and Culture, Home Affairs, and Social Security.
Forum for discussion
Around 110 people will participate in the engagement day, taking part in group work to help develop the priorities further. The day will aim to provide a dynamic forum for discussion with a multimedia and creative approach.
Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Peter McLinton, has responsibility for mental health services as part of his role. He said "Detailed work and planning for the future regarding mental health services has been going on for nearly a year to ensure that the States of Jersey will be able to provide the best service possible for Islanders. Mental health remains a high priority for Health and Social Services.
Accessible services
"We know that it is as important for people to be mentally healthy as it is to be physically healthy, and for people to be able to access the right mental health services when they need it, as quickly as possible. The earlier we can intervene and give someone’s mental health the input it needs, the sooner they can live a healthy life again.
“We also know that when people reach the stage of needing services to support them, for example, if someone has dementia, or an acute mental health need, that service must be quickly and easily accessible. We can’t always measure when someone might need support."
Mental Health was identified as an essential part of the transformation programme for the future of Health and Social Services in Jersey.
The Director for Service Redesign and Delivery at Health and Social Services, Rachel Williams, said “We have involved Islanders throughout the Mental Health review, and tomorrow’s event will encourage further meaningful discussions which will guide our future mental health services. This is an important opportunity for us to shape the future together, and we are looking forward to thinking about mental wellbeing as well as mental illness, considering all age groups and understanding the viewpoints of Islanders who receive services and those who care for them.”
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