9 -15 May 2022 is Mental Health Awareness Week and we are thinking about everyone who works in the West Yorkshire mental health system, as well as the people they care for.
The health and care system has been under unprecedented pressure for the past two years and we all continue to work in challenging circumstances, particularly as Covid-19 is still with us. As part of raising awareness of the Week, our Programme Chief Executive Dr Sara Munro and Programme Director Keir Shillaker have written this blog.
Covid 19 Omicron update – Mental health services in West Yorkshire
Mental health services across West Yorkshire are facing significant staffing issues due to absence related to usual winter pressures as well as Covid, and inpatient wards are under pressure. We don’t yet know the full scale of rising Omicron cases and how this will affect people needing NHS treatment.
Our staff are working exceptionally hard and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that essential services remain open for anyone who needs them, so people should continue to come forward for care.
Your experience of care may be slightly different due to the changes we have had to make to manage the current situation, for example, your appointment may need to be rearranged. People whose appointments need to be rearranged by us will be contacted directly by our teams. If you are not contacted directly, please turn up for your appointment. If you need to rearrange your appointment, please contact the number on your appointment letter so it can be reallocated to another patient. We know that face to face care is important to the treatment and recovery of some patients and we are prioritising this care.
Mental health is important – local support is still available. Our system is more than the NHS – our Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners offer a wide range of support and resources that are available to everyone who needs them. The support available from these trusted partners can keep you well and help you through all parts of your care journey.
People living in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield can find help and support from Choose Well, provided by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Children and young people living in Wakefield can find support and resources from WF I Can, in Calderdale from Open Minds and in Kirklees from Thriving Kirklees.
People living in Leeds can find help and support from our trusted partners at MindWell (for adults) and MindMate (for children and young people).
People living in Bradford District and Craven can find help and support from Healthy Minds.
Your physical health can affect your mental health. Staying physically well is important. Simple routines around exercise and a focus on healthy eating, limiting alcohol use and engaging in social activities can all contribute to wellbeing.
Free information and support for mental health, including a self-assessment tool, can be found at Mental health - NHS (www.nhs.uk).
While the NHS is prioritising boosting the country’s immunity, services are still open for those who need them urgently. Help our NHS staff be there for people who need them most by getting Covid and flu jabs and call NHS 111 free phone or online for urgent health advice.
For grief and loss support from trained listeners call 0808 196 3833, 8am-8pm every day or chat online here.
NightOWLS is for every child or young person in West Yorkshire who is experiencing a mental health crisis at night. Open 8pm-8am every day. Call free 0800 1488244, text 07984 392700 (charges may apply) or online chat at www.wynightowls.org.uk .
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can find help from our 24/7 crisis support lines:
About the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Programme
Our programme ambition is to work with the six local places (Bradford district and Craven. Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and Leeds) within our partnership to support delivery of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health; NHS Long Term Plan and our Partnership Five Year Plan for people with mental health, learning disabilities and / or autism.
In January 2018, a decision was made to include specific work around learning disability care and support because it made sense to work on this collectively. Recently, the West Yorkshire Transforming Care Partnership has been developed and this will be a sub group of the programme. The focus of the programme so far has mainly been on secondary, acute and specialist service provision although a by-product of the provider collaboration and because of new opportunities to collaborate has resulted in other initiatives being developed and included in the programme.
Staff mental health and wellbeing
Staff mental health and wellbeing is a priority across our Partnership with leaders highlighting concerns about staff stress and burnout.
NHS England / Improvement has funded the development and ongoing delivery of a mental health and wellbeing hub to support the more than 100 000 staff who work in West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership organisations.
The Hub brings together mechanisms and services that emphasise prevention and culture; support having the right conversations at the right time with the right people; work with teams and organisations to support and develop their local offers and support triaging, signposting and advocating for most appropriate support for individuals.
The services and resources provided by the Hub are free to access for anyone who works in any of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership's partner organisations, including people who work in our voluntary and community services. We recognise that people who work in social care are often reluctant to help seek and experience barriers to help-seeking behaviour and will work to understand and break down these barriers so that people can get the help that they need.
The Hub offers a range of psychological therapies including EMDR, CBT, mindfulness, ACT, CFT. You can find out more about these therapies here.
Supporting and caring for Autistic people #AutismAllies
The West Yorkshire Health and Care partnership is committed to improving the lives of Autistic people. We are passionate about working with Autistic people and their carers to hear their voice and experiences and work with us to improve and shape services. Particularly addressing and reducing inequalities faced by neurodivergent people or those seeking a diagnosis of Autism or/and ADHD. A whole system approach working collaboratively with partners and people with lived experience we will be carrying out an all age neurodiversity deep dive whilst continuing to work on other projects. You can read more about our work on our Autism page.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Service in Leeds - transfer of service to new provider
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Service (CAMHS) in Leeds has been transferred from Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH) to Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT).
Our Trust Boards agreed in September 2020 to the safe transfer of the leadership, governance and accountability of CAMHS inpatient service to LYPFT.
A new in-patient unit has been built in Leeds and is opening in Spring 2022. Catch up with the latest news about this exciting new build project on the LYPFT website here.
Grief and Loss Support Service
The West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Grief and Loss Service offers information and advice to anyone struggling with feelings of loss, whether as a result of bereavement or other loss such as loss of a way of life, normal contact opportunities, social and work interactions. Pandemic restrictions may also mean that the usual practical and emotional support people can physically get from family, friends, faith groups, community groups during difficult times may not be there.
The service is a free telephone helpline that operates 8am-8pm, 7 days a week and online chat facility. Specialist advisors will offer practical advice and emotional support, and where appropriate, can signpost people to local place based services for specific counselling or other support.
The service is commissioned by West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and is delivered by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Independent Hospices Consortium, Bradford Bereavement Services Consortium and Leeds Mind.
