The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP has praised Blackpool and @TheGrange during a recent visit to the town.
Mr Javid spoke about ‘the phenomenal things’ that had been done by @TheGrange over the last 18 months. He described the centre’s nonstop work to get thousands of food parcels and ‘meals on wheels’ out to some of the most vulnerable people in the community as ‘a remarkable achievement.’ The Secretary of State also praised the work of the NHS in Blackpool in getting treatment to those who need it most.
Mr Javid, along with leaders from Groundwork, the NHS, Council, BCH and other charities was visiting @TheGrange to take part in a round table discussion focused on mental health within the UK and what could be done to improve this on all fronts.
Lockdown and its impact on mental health
Following a year of unprecedented restrictions on people’s lives, mental health has recently re-emerged as one of the major health challenges within the UK. Lockdown resulted in school closures, job losses and new pressures on families and relationships, all of which will have had a profound impact on the nation’s mental health.
A roundtable brought together organisations who work with people on the frontlines. Those taking part discussed the impact of the pandemic on mental health and wellbeing. They also talked about how they could work together and as a society to improve mental health outcomes, and what the priorities should be for recovery from the pandemic.
Working collaboratively to tackle a complex problem such as mental health is going to take time and resources but it is a problem that we must address and take action on immediately.
Jon Hutchinson, Groundwork’s Director of Communities said: “It was great to welcome the Health Secretary to @TheGrange in Blackpool as part of this round table. Bringing together leaders from the NHS, Public Health, Third Sector, Social Housing and central Government to create a shared vision for the way forward is critical. Working collaboratively to tackle a complex problem such as mental health is going to take time and resources but it is a problem that we must address and take action on immediately. The role for the Third Sector within this is significant, support at a neighbourhood level is essential in creating resilient and healthy communities.”
View the Secretary of State’s speech.
