Agenda item

To be presented by Victoria Bleazard, Mental Health and Social Inclusion Programme Manager, Leonie Roberts, Consultant in Public Health, and Jo Copping, Consultant in Public Health.

The Board considered a report providing an update on plans to develop a citywide mental health and wellbeing programme.  The report included an overview of the “Thrive” model and proposed developing a “Thrive Bristol” programme, led by city leaders and co-produced with individuals and groups across the city.

Leonie Roberts, Consultant in Public Health and Victoria Bleazard, Mental Health and Social Inclusion Programme Manager presented the report.

Main points raised/noted:

a. There was positive support from Board members generally for the principle of developing a Thrive programme in Bristol.

b. The “Thrive” brand was welcomed.

c. The proposed collaborative partnership approach, embracing inclusion and co-production was strongly welcomed and supported.

d. It was suggested that addressing the mental health and wellbeing of young people should one of the key priorities.  It was noted that in presenting their manifesto at the Bristol Full Council meeting earlier that week, members of the Bristol Youth Council had identified young people’s mental health and wellbeing as one of their key priorities.

e. The mental health and wellbeing of older people was also a priority area.

f. It would be essential to include a focus on preventative approaches in relation to mental health and wellbeing, e.g. taking into account the evidence around trying to ensure the best possible start in life for children and how a child’s experiences during their first 1,000 days of life impacted on their future wellbeing.

g. It would be important to learn from the models and experience elsewhere of taking forward Thrive programmes (e.g. West Midlands and also Thrive London and Black Thrive), and apply best practice accordingly.  The views of local communities about their needs must also be taken into account. 

h. It would also be important to link the programme in with other related initiatives, e.g. work being taken forward on tackling loneliness and social isolation; and also take into account relevant aspects of the current “Your Neighbourhood” consultation outcomes.

i. There was an opportunity for the approach to be applied across the wider BNSSG footprint.

j. Consideration should be given to looking to bring new partners “to the table” in terms of the contribution they can potentially make around this agenda, e.g. the newly established West of England Combined Authority.

k. The Mayor indicated his strong support for the approach and also commented that, in terms of the longer term strategic view of health leadership, as discussed earlier at the meeting, the Board should be aiming to ensure leadership and full support across partners for positive initiatives such as the Thrive programme. Bristol as a city should aim to have the most healthy and well workforce in the country into the future.

At the conclusion of the discussion, taking account of the above, the Board

RESOLVED:

To adopt and support the delivery of a “Thrive Bristol” programme to address the Board’s key priority to improve mental health and wellbeing across the city; and that further work be now progressed to identify the vision and key focuses of a Thrive programme and related actions.