Working Together

Get to know our campaign's progress so far, and how we're committed to improving systematic challenges in mental health support in Torbay. Join us as we grow and succeed together. We're glad you're here to be a part of our story.

The beach (more specifically, the sea) is an important symbol in this campaign. The beach brings many of us a sense of peace, and can help to reset our headspace in times of stress. I like to view my own personal challenges as a moment that will pass - one that won't last forever - much like a wave lapping the shores of a beach.

We pride ourselves on our adaptability and commitment to listening to Torbay's voices in every aspect of the campaign.

 

We pride this campaign on being united with local residents to allow everyone the opportunity to have a voice in how they wish to be supported with their mental health. We also are honoured to be collaborating with mental health professionals who have volunteered to assist our proposals and our aim of supporting decision-making for mental health support in Torbay.

 

Explore what we have achieved so far below.

Head on over to the next tab, 'Getting Involved' if you'd like to support this campaign.

Findings from local (Torbay) legislation, policies, and strategies:

From: 'Enduring Mental Illness'

  • '24,000 adults with mental health issues' in Torbay (out of approximately just under 140,000 residents - that is roughly 17%.
  • The council stated we need 'fewer people experiencing deteriorating mental health', with 'earlier, accessible support', including knowing where to reach support.
  • A 'Community Mental Health Framework' was developed across Devon to create supportive group sessions and more.
  • Torbay Council said they will 'improve coordination of services', provide 'availability of wider range of service provision'.

 

From: 'Focus on Mental Health'

  • This policy highlights the 'Older Person Mental Health service', 'Care Home Education and Support Services', 'Mental Health Adult Social Care Team', the 'Torbay Approved Mental Health Professionals service', the 'Emergency Duty Service'
  • Torbay Council stated 'we need to offer accessible quality mental health care and support'.
  • This policy states 'our aim is to provide the best quality service for people who may need our help...and to ensure that people with lived experience of mental health play a key role in transforming the service'.
  • Their vision is 'to create thriving communities where people can prosper' and have said 'we need to offer accessible quality mental health care and support'.
  • One of the key 'Emergency Duty Service' aims is: to ensure that children, young people, and adults within Torbay remain safeguarded from harm. For more information, click on the link above.

 

From: 'Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2026' (section 'Priority 1 Good Mental Health')

  • Torbay Council stated that before the COVID-19 pandemic, '1 in 4' Torbay residents reported high anxiety levels, with '1 in 5' reporting having a common mental disorder. Alongside this, this policy stated self-harm and suicide rates were significantly higher than the national average.
  • This policy stated these statistics have worsened post-pandemic.
  • It also stated many children are experiencing the same difficulties, including a high level of self-harm among children and young people.
  • It stated that 'pausing or cancellation of services during the pandemic has contributed to some people not getting the help they need in a timely manner'.
  • The goals included (for individuals, children, and their families): receiving person-centred support, right level of support at the right time for the client, feel safe and protected, and have mental health issues identified and addressed early.
  • The strategies included: ensuring mental health and wellbeing and suicide prevention remain a priority, drive continuous improvement in Children and Young People's mental health outcomes, implement the Torbay suicide and self-harm prevention plan (2023-2028 - this is a national prevention strategy found here), amongst others. For more information, click on the link above.

 

From: Torbay's 2024/2025 Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (section 'Mental Health')

  • Torbay has higher percentages of school students with social, emotional, and mental health needs than England's average.
  • Residents with depression and/or other mental illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, and other psychoses) is higher in Torbay GP patients than other areas in England.
  • Self-harm hospital admission rates in young people, and self-harm emergency hospital admission rates of all ages have been consistently significantly higher in Torbay than other areas in England.
  • Torbay suicide rates have been significantly higher than other areas in England for nearly a decade.
  • Torbay has been in the 2nd highest quintile for rates of depression since 2016/2017. 

 

Given this data and these statistics, it is very clear why we need to implement improved strategies to support our residents, join together as the Torbay community, and help to make the systematic changes necessary for improved accessibility.

 

 

What the campaign survey has found so far:

Although we have also had some positive feedback, a common theme throughout responses so far points towards systematic issues, such as long wait times and a need for more accessibility. 

If you wish to have your say, scan the QR code below, or click on the 'Getting Involved' tab at the top of the page.

 

What the campaign is doing about these findings currently:

We are busy contacting mental health professionals to collaborate on making suggestions to be included in the campaign's proposal, which aim to improve these systematic challenges that have been raised. We are aiming to, in the coming months, put forward the finished proposal to our local MP and council representatives.

 

Follow along to see how the campaign's journey unfolds. 

Survey QR Code

Updates by Month:

November:

  • Concept planning, and goals & strategies discussions.

December:

  • Discussions and online meeting with CEO of a national UK mental health and campaign organisation for advice.
  • Set out our approach (petition vs campaign - we chose campaign), alongside how we would do this (social media accounts, survey, posters, etc).

January:

  • Survey finalised - this was made for those with mental health lived experiences, as well as loved ones, and also for clinicians and practitioners. We have been using this to gain a bigger insight into how well-supported Torbay feels surrounding mental health and wellbeing.
  • Meeting held with a professional from a research ethics committee for independent and volunteered advice, as we asked for an insight into ethics surrounding our survey. Once all was finalised after this independent meeting, the survey was released.

February:

  • Beginning to work through responses from the survey.
  • Contacting and holding meetings with mental health professionals to assist us with our solutions proposal. This looks like discussing a need for more funding, improved engagement, more community engagement for Torbay residents to combat feelings of isolation, and more.
  • Attending business meetings to connect with mental health professionals and private clinics to work collaboratively to improve access to mental health support. Also to spread the campaign across networks.

March:

  •  Still pushing the campaign further to reach more people. So far we have on board 12 mental health practitioners, researchers, campaigners, organisations, and med-tech innovators (this is to propose the use of new apps that support specific areas of mental health and wellbeing).
  • Branching the campaign out to other areas such as input regarding mental health in schools, residential homes, and in the workplace.
  • Holding meetings with mental health professionals to understand what is working well, and what we need more of in order to improve accessibility and increase engagement.

 

Follow along to see what we do next.