Policy paper

Prevention concordat for better mental health

Updated 27 April 2020

© Crown copyright 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevention-concordat-for-better-mental-health-consensus-statement/prevention-concordat-for-better-mental-health

About the concordat

The Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health is underpinned by an understanding that taking a prevention-focused approach to improving the public’s mental health is shown to make a valuable contribution to achieving a fairer and more equitable society. The concordat promotes evidence-based planning and commissioning to increase the impact on reducing health inequalities. The sustainability and cost-effectiveness of this approach will be enhanced by the inclusion of action that impacts on the wider determinants of mental health and wellbeing.

The concordat is intended to provide a focus for cross-sector action to deliver a tangible increase in the adoption of public mental health approaches across:

  • local authorities
  • the NHS
  • public, private and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations
  • educational settings
  • employers

It acknowledges the active role played by people with lived experience of mental health problems, individually and through user-led organisations.

This definition of the concordat has been agreed by the organisations listed at the end of this document. It represents a public mental health informed approach to prevention, as outlined in the NHS Five Year Forward View, and promotes relevant NICE guidance and existing evidence-based interventions and delivery approaches, such as ‘making every contact count’.

Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health

Why sign the Prevention Concordat?

This is part of a wider drive to secure an increase in the implementation of public mental health approaches across the whole system. The sustainability and cost-effectiveness of this approach will be enhanced by the inclusion of action that impacts on the wider determinants of mental health and wellbeing.

Taking a prevention-focused approach to improving the public’s mental health is shown to make a valuable contribution to achieving a fairer and more equitable society.

It is an opportunity to share the work you are doing to create resilient communities, build momentum in a national shift to support prevention activity and ultimately, through local and national action, to prevent mental health problems and promote good mental health.

Consensus statement

This consensus statement describes the shared commitment of the organisations signed below to work together via the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health, through local and national action, to prevent mental health problems and promote good mental health.

The undersigned organisations agree that:

  1. To transform the health system, we must increase the focus on prevention and the wider determinants of mental health. We recognise the need for a shift towards prevention-focused leadership and action throughout the mental health system; and into the wider system. In turn, this will impact positively on the NHS and social care system by enabling early help through the use of upstream interventions.

  2. There must be joint cross-sectoral action to deliver an increased focus on the prevention of mental health problems and the promotion of good mental health at local level. This should draw on the expertise of people with lived experience of mental health problems, and the wider community, to identify solutions and promote equality.

  3. We will promote a prevention-focused approach towards improving the public’s mental health, as all our organisations have a role to play.

  4. We will work collaboratively across organisational boundaries and disciplines to secure place-based improvements that are tailored to local needs and assets, in turn increasing sustainability and the effective use of limited resources.

  5. We will build the capacity and capability across our workforce to prevent mental health problems and promote good mental health, as outlined in the Public Mental Health Leadership and Workforce Development Framework Call to Action1.

  6. We believe local areas will benefit from adopting the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health.

  7. We are committed to supporting local authorities, policy makers, NHS clinical commissioning groups and other commissioners, service providers, employers and the voluntary and community sector to adopt this Concordat and its approach.

Signatories

This first Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health was co-produced by:

  • Association of Directors of Public Health – Prof. Jim McManus
  • Association of Mental Health Providers – Kathy Roberts
  • Centre for Mental Health – Andy Bell
  • Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition – Mick Atkinson
  • Department of Health – Jonathon Marron
  • Faculty of Public Health – Christina Gray
  • Local Government Association – Abigail Gallop
  • Mental Health Commissioners Network – Dr Phil Moore
  • Mental Health Foundation – Jenny Edwards
  • National Survivor User Network – Sarah Yiannoullou
  • NHS England – Prof. Tim Kendall
  • Public Health England – Lily Makurah

The first wave of local authority area (geographical) signatories was announced by Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive, Public Health England on 9 March 2018.

The following areas have signed the Prevention Concordat to highlight their commitment to engage in cross-sector, prevention-focused action through the adoption of public mental health approaches:

  • Bristol
    • Bristol City Council – Dr Jacqui Jensen, Executive Director
  • Calderdale
    • Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council – Robin Tuddenham, Chief Executive
  • Cornwall
    • Cornwall City Council – Kate Kennally, Chief Executive
  • Coventry
    • Coventry City Council – Martin Reeves, Chief Executive
  • Derby
    • Derby City Council – Cate Edwynn, Director of Public health
  • Derbyshire
    • Derbyshire County Council – Councillor Trevor Ainsworth
  • Doncaster
    • Doncaster Council – Damien Allen, Chief Executive
    • Doncaster Health and Wellbeing Board – Rupert Suckling, Director of Public Health
  • Dudley
    • Dudley Health and Wellbeing Board – Cllr Nicolas Barlow, Chair
    • Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council – Kevin O’Keefe, Chief Executive
  • Durham
    • County Durham – Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health
  • East Riding of Yorkshire
    • East Riding of Yorkshire Council – Caroline Lacey, Chief Executive
  • Great Manchester Combined Authority
    • Great Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership – Warren Heppolette, Executive Lead
  • Hampshire
    • Hampshire County Council – John Coughlan, Chief Executive
  • Hertfordshire
    • Hertfordshire County Council – Prof. Jim McManus, Director of Public Health and Richard Roberts, Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Performance
  • Kirklees
    • Kirklees Council – Jacqui Gedman, Chief Executive
  • Leeds
    • Leeds City Council – Tom Riordan, Chief Executive
  • London
    • City of London Corporation – John Barradell, Chief Executive
    • London Borough of Hackney – Philip Glanville, Elected Mayor
    • Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames – Ian Thomas CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Borough of Kingston
  • Middlesbrough
    • Middlesbrough Council – Edward Kunonga, Director of Public Health
  • Newcastle
    • Newcastle City Council – Pat Ritchie, Chief Executive
  • Norfolk
    • Norfolk Health and Wellbeing Board – Councillor Bill Borrett, Chairman
    • Norfolk County Council – Louise Smith, Director of Public Health
  • Northampton
    • Northampton Borough Council – George Candler, Chief Executive
  • Northumberland
    • Northumberland County Council – Councillor Richard Dodd
  • Nottinghamshire
    • Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group – Idris Griffiths, Chief Executive
    • Gedling Borough Council –Karen Bradford – Chief Executive
    • Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board – Anthony May, Chief Executive
  • Oxfordshire
    • Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board
    • Oxfordshire County Council – Yvonne Rees, Chief Executive
    • Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group – Dr Kiren Collinson, Clinical Chair
    • Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Dr Bruno Holthof, Chief Executive Officer
    • Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust – Stuart Bell, Chief Executive
    • Healthwatch Oxfordshire – Professor George Smith, Chairman
    • Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership - Dan Knowles, Chief Executive
    • Active Oxfordshire – Paul Brivio, Chief Executive
    • Cherwell District Council – Yvonne Rees, Chief Executive
    • Oxford City Council – Gordon Mitchell, Chief Executive
    • South Oxfordshire District Council – Mark Stone, Chief Executive
    • Vale of the White Horse District Council – Mark Stone, Chief Executive
    • West Oxfordshire District Council – David Neudegg, Chief Executive
  • Redcar and Cleveland
    • Redcar and Cleveland Council – Edward Kunonga, Director of Public Health
  • Rushcliffe
    • Rushcliffe Borough Council – Kath Marriot, Chief Executive
  • Shropshire
    • Burton Borough High School – Christine Raymont-Hall, Principal
  • South Gloucestershire
    • South Gloucestershire Mental Health Partnership
    • South Gloucestershire Council – Dave Perry, Chief Executive
  • Swindon
    • Swindon Borough Council – Cherry Jones, Director of Public Health
  • Suffolk
    • Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board – Cllr Tony Goldson, Chairman
  • Thurrock
    • Thurrock Health and Wellbeing Board – Sue Little, Chair
    • Thurrock Council – Lyn Carpenter, Chief Executive
  • Torbay
    • Torbay Council – Dr Caroline Dimond, Director of Public Health
  • Warwickshire
    • Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Board – Izzi Seccombe, Chief Executive
    • Warwickshire County Council – Izzi Seccombe, Leader
  • West Midlands
    • West Midlands Combined Authority – Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Chair
  • West Yorkshire and Harrogate
    • West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership - Robin Tuddenham - Chief Executive, Calderdale Council; Dr James Thomas - Clinical lead, Airedale Wharfdale and Craven CCG; Dr Sara Munro - Chief Executive, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Trust
  • Windsor & Maidenhead
    • Windsor & Maidenhead Borough Council – Hilary Hall, Deputy
  • York
    • York City Council – Councillor Carol Runciman

British Crown Dependencies:

  • Guernsey (Island)
    • Bailiwick of Guernsey – Heidi Soulsby, President

Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health in England

Prevention Concordat's map until December 2019.

Map produced by: National Mental Health Intelligence Network, PHE

Last updated: December 2019

Source: Public Mental Health Team, PHE

Endorsees of the concordat

Statutory organisations and professional bodies:

  • Association of Directors of Public Health UK – Dr Andrew Furber, President
  • Care Quality Commission – Paul Lelliott, Deputy Chief Inspector (Mental Health)
  • Department of Health – Jonathan Marron, Director, General Community Care
  • Faculty of Public Health – John Middleton, President
  • Health Education England – Ian Cumming, Chief Executive
  • Local Government Association – Councillor Izzi Seccombe
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – Gillian Leng, Deputy Chief Executive
  • NHS Digital – Rob Shaw, Interim Chief Executive
  • NHS England – Claire Murdoch, National Mental Health Director (and National Senior Responsible Officer for Five Year Forward View for Mental Health)
  • NHS Improvement – Tim Kendall, National Clinical Director for Mental Health
  • Royal College of Nursing – Janet Davis, Chief Executive and General Secretary
  • Royal College of Psychiatrists – Wendy Burn, President

Wider organisations and bodies:

  • Age UK – Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director
  • Arts & Health South West – Alexandra Coulter, Director
  • Association of Directors of Adult Social Services – Glen Garrod, President
  • British Dietetic Association – Andy Burman, Chief Executive
  • British Islamic Medical Association – Dr Kaf Al Ghazaal, Chief Executive
  • British Institute of Learning Disabilities – Ben Higgins, Chief Executive
  • British Psychological Society – Sarb Bajwa, Chief Executive
  • Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales – Right Reverend Richard Moth, Bishop for Mental Health
  • Clinks – Anne Fox, Chief Executive
  • Company Chemists’ Association – Malcolm Harrison - CEO
  • Cruse Bereavement Care – Debbie Kerslake, Chief Executive
  • Diabetes UK – Chris Askew, Chief Executive
  • Environment Agency – Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive
  • Homeless Link – Rick Henderson, Chief Executive
  • Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust – Andrew van Doorn, Chief Executive
  • Inspirited Minds – Talat Baig, Chief Executive
  • Institute of Health Visiting – Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, Chief Executive
  • KeyRing Living Support Networks – Karyn Kirkpatrick, Chief Executive
  • Maternity Action – Rosalind Bragg, Director
  • Men’s Health Forum – Martin Tod, Chief Executive
  • METRO Charity – Greg Ussher, Chief Executive
  • Mind – Paul Farmer, Chief Executive
  • Muslim Council of Britain – Harun Khan, Secretary General
  • Nacro – Jacob Tas, Chief Executive
  • National Development Team for Inclusion – Rob Greig, Chief Executive
  • National Fire Chiefs Council – Neil Odin, Chair
    • Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
    • East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
    • Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
    • Hampshire & Isle of White Fire and Rescue Service
    • Humberside Fire & Rescue Service
    • Kent Fire and Rescue Service
    • Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
    • Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service
    • London Fire Brigade
    • Nottinghamshire fire and rescue service
    • Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
    • Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
    • South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
    • West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
  • National Probation Service – Steve Johnson-Proctor, Probation Divisional Director
  • National Suicide Prevention Alliance – Brian Dow and Ruth Sutherland, Co-Chairs
  • Network Rail – Mark Carne, Chief Executive
  • The National LGBT Partnership – Paul Martin, Chair
  • National Voices – Jeremy Taylor, Chief Executive
  • Rethink – Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive
  • Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland – Amanda Watkin, General Secretary
  • Samaritans – Ruth Sutherland, Chief Executive
  • Skills For Care – Andy Tilden, Chief Executive
  • StreetGames – Jane Ashworth, Chief Executive
  • Student Minds – Rosie Tressler, Chief Executive
  • Thrive LDN – Dan Barrett, Director
  • Yorkshire Ambulance Service – Rod Barnes, Chief Executive
  • Young Minds – Sarah Brennan, Chief Executive
  • Young People’s Health Partnership – Emma Rigby, Lead
  • Youth Access – Barbara Rayment, Director

How to sign the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health

By signing the Prevention Concordat, organisations declare their endorsement of the consensus statement and their shared commitment to support local and national action to prevent mental health problems and promote good mental health.

Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health sign-up protocol

The sign-up protocol has 6 steps:

  1. Contact publicmentalhealth@phe.gov.uk to request a local or national Prevention Concordat commitment action plan template.

  2. Complete Prevention Concordat commitment action plan which highlights commitment to do specific actions centred on the prevention of mental health problems and promotion of good mental health.

  3. Chief Executive (or appropriate senior leader) of organisation to commit and sign up to approved commitment action plan1.

  4. Email your submission to publicmentalhealth@phe.gov.uk.

  5. Confirmation of receipt received.

  6. A panel will review and approve action plans submitted within one month of submission date.

What happens following sign-up to the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health?

A formal announcement of new national and local signatories will be highlighted through PHE communications or uploaded onto the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health webpage. National and local signatories will receive a formal certificate. Signatories will be asked to promote their involvement and deliver joint communications on the prevention concordat, and their specified commitments.

  1. Public mental health leadership and workforce development framework. London: Public Health England; 2015 (updated 2016). ↩ ↩2

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