Today, over 150 mental health leaders, clinicians, community partners, and people with lived experience of mental ill health gathered at Everyday Church in Wimbledon for the annual South West London Mental Health Conference. Held as part of Mental Health Awareness Week and following its theme of ‘Community’, the event focused on exploring three key ambitions from the South West London Mental Health Strategy.
Hosted by NHS South West London Integrated Care System (ICS) and South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, the conference featured a series of expert-led sessions and interactive workshops exploring some of the most pressing challenges facing the mental health system today – from youth wellbeing to health inclusion, anti-racism and the prevention of crisis and early support.
Commenting on the day, Trust Chief Executive, Vanessa Ford said: “This conference is about bringing people together – across communities, sectors and services. It has been vital to listen to everyone who joined us today, and to use those outcomes to shape how we deliver on the ambitions set out in our South West London Mental Health Strategy.
“We want South West London to be the best place to live for emotional wellbeing and to ensure everyone, regardless of their background, has access to the mental health support they need.
“Bringing lived experience and frontline insights into the heart of this conversation is essential if we want to deliver modern mental healthcare that prioritises co-production, prevention and early support, equity of access and anti-racism. Thank you to everyone who has taken part today and played a part in this.”
The day opened with powerful reflections from Mike Bell, Chair of NHS South West London, Vanessa Ford, Chief Executive of South West London and St George’s, and Dr Iram Sattar MBE, one of the Trust’s Non-Executive Directors. Voices of lived experience featured throughout the event, beginning with that of young person supported by local youth mental health charity, Jigsaw4U and followed by Peer Support Workers sharing their lived experience.
Leaders from the Ethnicity and Mental Health Improvement Project (EMHIP) also spoke powerfully about the challenges of stigma and access and the need for culturally appropriate care and approaches rooted in the community.
Jermaine, a Peer Support Worker at South West London and St George’s said: “It was so important to me that I was able to access crisis support when I really needed it. Telephone lines and text message support allowed me to connect how I wanted to. I used to only access support when I hit the bottom of the spiral, but over the years, and with support, I now know the signals and can access support earlier to help stop me from hitting crisis point.”
Stephen Loizou, Chief Executive of Jigsaw4u said: “As a charity providing mental health and wellbeing services across South West London, Jigsaw4u were delighted to be asked to present at the conference. We are facing enormous demand for our services, and hope the contributions made today by our staff and guests with lived experience will help us and our partners achieve the ambitions of South West London’s Mental Health Strategy.
“The theme of ‘Community’ is particularly important to Jigsaw4u, as we strive to be part of a mental health system which provides equal and timely access to everyone who needs support.”
