Tackling mental health inequalities in the response to Covid-19

View this email in your browser ([link removed])

Centre for Mental Health news


** April 2020
------------------------------------------------------------
Hello from Sarah!
Dear friends,

It has been five weeks since the country was put into lockdown to keep us safe from coronavirus and it has been a test of all sorts of things: our health and care system, our communities, and ourselves and our families. It is a challenge to write a cheery newsletter piece knowing that so many lives have been lost and that, sadly, as in normal times the disease is not experienced equally. Andy has written a very moving blog about this ([link removed]) .

We’re working behind the scenes with government and partners all the time, advocating, analysing and making sense of people’s experiences - you can find out more here ([link removed]) . One of our most important pieces of work is looking at what we might expect to happen to the nation’s mental health over the coming years, so that we can help the system develop services that will respond to ongoing and emerging needs. We are particularly interested in how we (as services and as society) can create trauma-informed environments in our workplaces, homes and communities.

We’re sharing blogs ([link removed]) from people with lived experience, practitioners and organisations, so do get in touch if you’re interested in sharing your experience with us. And we know that the academic data collected will only make sense if they are thought about within the context of people’s experiences – which is why we’re launching a new project focused on collecting people’s narrative accounts ([link removed]) of how the pandemic has affected their mental health.

Stay well, stay safe.

Sarah
Supporting mental health equality through the pandemic ([link removed])

The global coronavirus pandemic is not just a physical health emergency. It also has significant impacts on our mental health. At Centre for Mental Health, we are playing our part in responding to the crisis and taking action now to address both the short- and long-term mental health challenges it presents. Take a look at our strategy. ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
A Year In Our Lives 2020 ([link removed])

How is coronavirus affecting your mental health?

Whether you have had a mental health difficulty before or not, whatever age you are, wherever you are from, we want to know about the ways the crisis is affecting your mental health and how you are responding to that.

So we've launched A Year In Our Lives - a new project to share people’s accounts of living through the coronavirus outbreak and what it has meant for their mental health. We will be asking anyone with a story to tell to share their narrative of 2020 with us. Watch this space for details of how you can send us your story.

Click for more info ([link removed])
Nick breaks down COVID-19 concepts and news

[link removed]

Our Chief Economist, Nick O'Shea, shares a simple explanation for "r0", or the reinfection rate in relation to COVID-19, and what this means in terms of slowing the spread of the virus. As ever, he's thrown in some handy visual aids.
[link removed]

Nick is back with another helpful explanation video, this time highlighting four key messages to take away from the financial measures announced by the Government to mitigate against COVID-19.

Publications
[link removed]

Supporting mental health in communities during the coronavirus crisis ([link removed])
Across the UK, voluntary and community organisations are already taking action and working with their NHS and local government partners in response to the pressing needs of the communities they serve and come from.

This briefing looks at how statutory service commissioners and providers are working with their voluntary and community sector partners to respond to the crisis and gives practical advice on how to build effective partnerships locally.

Download the report here ([link removed])

[link removed]
COVID-19 appeal ([link removed])

We know that the coronavirus pandemic is a physical health emergency on a global scale, such as we have never seen in our lifetimes. But it is also a mental health emergency. Our high quality, evidence-based research, evaluation and policy advice has never been more important during this time of uncertainty. Now more than ever, your support is so valuable.

Help us to support those at the frontline of this mental health crisis ([link removed])
Blogs
[link removed]

We mustn't let this crisis entrench mental health inequalities ([link removed])
Changes to the benefits system are long overdue. We cannot let those most in need be forgotten in the long-term response to the crisis, argues Tom Pollard

[link removed]

Unsettling and unjust: mental health inequalities and coronavirus ([link removed])
Andy outlines how the impact of coronavirus, like mental illness, is being driven by inequality

[link removed]

Was is catastrophising or not after all? ([link removed])
Marsha McAdam on the surreal way the pandemic is validating the previous fears she experienced with Borderline Personality Disorder

[link removed]

A public health approach to understanding resilience during COVID-19 ([link removed])
Sally Amor challenges the idea of resilience as 'grit and determination', recommending instead a trauma-informed understanding

News
* We’ve launched a government-backed fund for organisations providing vital coronavirus support ([link removed]) to people living in England, in partnership with other mental health charities [link removed]
* Survey ([link removed]) : We want to hear from people who work in mental health care ([link removed]) to understand the impact of the pandemic on these services, in collaboration with the Mental Health Policy Research Unit
* Survey ([link removed]) : Black Thrive is collecting evidence on how the pandemic is affecting people's lives ([link removed]) for the Government's select committee on equalities and COVID-19
* Work opportunity ([link removed]) : Peer Researcher - Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund at Mind

IPS Training

Earlier this month, over 70 people attended our free webinar providing information on employment rights relating the COVID-19. We were delighted to team up with Kathleen Bolt, an experienced lawyer and mediator to provide this one-off session to Mental Health Employment Specialists.

Whilst our face-to-face courses are on hold at the moment we’re concentrating on providing information and resources to IPS services via digital means. If we can help we’d love to hear from you - contact Zak via [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

============================================================
We hope you've enjoyed hearing about our work bringing equality for mental health closer.

We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions for this newsletter and our digital presence - drop me an email at ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected] )
.

Best wishes,

Alethea Joshi
Digital & Communications Lead
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** YouTube ([link removed])
** YouTube ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** LinkedIn ([link removed])
** LinkedIn ([link removed])
Copyright © 2020 Centre for Mental Health, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up to our email bulletin

Our mailing address is:
Centre for Mental Health
Office 2D21, Southbank Technopark
90 London Road
London, SE1 6LN
United Kingdom
** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
** update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]