Blogs

Though the terraces were empty, 'You'll never walk alone' played in my mind throughout our recent Prevention Concordat learning event at Anfield Road. It seemed a fitting accompaniment to our conversations, which addressed some suitably grand topics about the role of community and place in promoting positive mental health.

How often do you have, in one place at one time, geographies as diverse as Sussex, Swindon and Southwark? Or organisations from the fire service to the Samaritans? Or professions, from politician to medic to manager?

Home of Tolkien, more canals than Venice; Birmingham is a remarkable place. Among much else, Birmingham gave the world the blueprint for how local authorities could act with muscle to improve the health of its population.

"My first NHS job was in Plymouth," said Michael. "1980. My accommodation was on the site of the psychiatric hospital. Largely full of people with dementia, and barely a foot between their beds." If there’s ever an example of how major change does happen in health and care, the end of the Victorian asylum is it.

The sixth face-to-face event in the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health learning series saw snowy scenes at the Oval cricket ground, but despite the inclement weather and disruptions to travel, the atmosphere in the room was positive (helped in part by plentiful hot drinks and soup to thaw people out). 

For the fifth face-to-face event in Public Health England’s Prevention Concordat series we gathered in the East Midlands. The conversation was far-reaching (who’d have thought the Vatican would come up as a topic of conversation?) and we had the chance to hear a range of case studies from the region.

"The best things in life are free," sang The Beatles. "But," they continued, "you can keep them for the birds and bees. Now give me money…" Is money essential in getting what you want? Is it the key factor in making change happen?

For face-to-face event number three in Public Health England's Prevention Concordat series, we welcomed participants from across the south east. A good event needs to leave you with snippets that you just can't get out of your head, and the south east event certainly achieved that.

"We’re here today for enlightenment," proclaimed Edward Kununga, Director of Public Health for Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, at the start of our learning event on the Public Health England-led Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health. Dramatic? Maybe. Overblown? Not at all.

Think of the last time you were faced with a complex challenge. One where the answers weren’t simple and the resources at your disposal very much finite. Got one? Great. How did you solve it? Unless you have super human capabilities, I’m going to guess that it involved working with others, seeking their advice, sharing what you know, and trying to come up with a solution together.