Community leaders set to gather for Accountability Assembly
More than 400 community leaders across South London call for action to improve mental health to mark World Mental Health Day
Communities, local authorities, mental health trusts and NHS Integrated Care Systems are coming together to drive the mental ill-health prevention agenda and build a collective vision for the future through South London Listens.
South London Citizens, part of the community organising charity Citizens UK, hosts a mental health assembly this evening (10 October) at Greenwood Theatre, King’s College London
Over 400 community leaders will be joined by Senior NHS leaders and local politicians to celebrate the past two years of achievements, take stock of where more needs to be done, and make collective commitments to continuing to support the work of South London Listens
Community leaders will lead a call for further action on the factors that impact their mental health, marking two years since the launch of this movement
South London Listens is a unique movement that is the result of a collaboration between community organisations, the NHS and local authorities. It is built on the contributions of thousands of people from across south London who have openly shared how the pandemic has impacted them and their ideas for preventing a mental ill-health crisis. It has four main priorities:
1) Loneliness, social isolation and digital inclusion
2) Work and wages
3) Children, young people and parental mental health
4) Access to mental health services
Powerful stories will be heard from individuals from across South London who are directly affected by lack of access to safe, responsive, and timely mental health services to precarious working conditions and low wages, among other critical issues which have the potential to impact the mental health of communities.
Ann Beasley CBE, Chair, South West London & St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust said: “South London Listens, having emerged following the pandemic to support the recovery of our communities and tackle growing health inequalities, has only become more relevant as we have seen the impact of the increased cost of living on people’s mental health and wellbeing.
“The commitment shown by everyone involved in South London Listens provides us with a unique opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on people’s lives. I am so proud that South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust was a founding member of such an innovative, community-led project and I’m truly excited to share the progress that we, and our partners, have made at the Accountability Assembly.”
The Venerable Dr Rosemarie Mallet, Bishop of Croydon said: “New challenges are constantly emerging. Right now, the cost-of-living crisis is hurting many in our communities. We will be listening to our communities on how institutions like the NHS, local authorities, churches, faith groups, universities, businesses can support them through these difficult times. In south London, we are all united in our commitment to work hand in hand with our communities to help build a better future for everyone.”
Sir Norman Lamb, Chair, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted to come together on World Mental Health Day 2022 to demonstrate our commitment to action and creating lasting change for our communities – which is stronger than ever.
We are pioneering a new approach to partnership, building stronger relationships, sharing power, listening, co-producing solutions and taking action to overturn the inequalities which have a devastating impact on mental health.
“We know the lasting psychological impact that Covid-19 has had on people’s mental health and wellbeing. Now with the cost-of-living crisis impacting so many people’s lives, our work together has never been more important.”
Samuel Kamara, Parent Power leader said: “I am a Parent Power leader and single father with 3 sons aged, 18, 14 and 9. I face challenges to mine and my children’s mental health. I needed somewhere to go for support. I feel lucky to be part of Parent Power, a network where me and my children have been able to access workshops. Where parents have access to free training to be mental health champions and who are now looking at how they can support other parents.”
In early 2020, South London Citizens alongside hundreds of community leaders, local authorities, voluntary organisations, and the three NHS trusts in south London came together to engage in a listening campaign that identified four key areas where action was needed and established South London Listens. The Assembly on 10 October will provide an opportunity to revisit the pledges made in each of the four priority areas.