Second survey launched for South London Listens

Last year, hundreds of people from every borough in south London completed the community mental health survey, which revealed the Covid-19 pandemic had had a profound effect on people’s mental health and wellbeing. Respondents reporting high levels of depression and anxiety, and many said they had experienced feelings of loneliness, isolation and powerlessness.

The results informed a series of asks from the community, developed through community organising in partnership with Citizens UK, which the South London Listens partnership pledged their support to tackling.

Take the survey now - https://citizensuk.typeform.com/to/CCBJbay5

Sir Norman Lamb, Co-Chair of South London Listens Taskforce, and Chair of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are just beginning on our road to recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.  A lot of progress has been made in the last year, but we have a long way to go. The results of this survey will show us where the greatest need is and where we should focus to support our communities.”

Rev Canon Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Co-Chair of South London Listens Taskforce, Bishop of Croydon and part of South London Citizens said: “Covid-19 has impacted all our lives, but it is those that were the most vulnerable and faced the biggest barriers before the pandemic struck, that will live with its after effects the longest. By listening to our communities, and developing our recovery plans together, we have a chance to make positive changes that last.”  

Ann Beasley CBE, Co-Chair of South London Listens Taskforce, and Chair of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust said: “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 mental health and wellbeing. How we recover from the pandemic is equally as important as how we came together to overcome its darkest days.”

Since the South London Listens action plan was launched in November 2021, enormous progress has been made to support people’s recovery.

South London Listens has:

• Launched a new mental health champions programme to provide specialist training from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust experts

• Begun recruiting a network of Be Well Hubs that will launch later this summer for people to access support

• Launched pilot peer support programmes for parental mental health

• Launched a pilot to embed community mental health practitioners in migrant organisations to support better access to services

 The results of this year’s survey will help shape South London Listens’ ongoing Covid-19 recovery plans.