Volume 27, Issue 2, March 2021, published online
Read this issue here

Source: The King’s Fund; Health Management and Policy Alert
Mental health disorders are one of the common causes of morbidity in England and primary care plays a key role in supporting patients’ mental health and wellbeing, so it has become a priority for many primary care networks (PCNs). This briefing provides examples of three models of partnership working that are currently under way in primary care to support mental health at place level.
Syphilis: Public Health England action plan.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
(Addressing the increase in syphilis in England.)
The obesity paradigm and the role of health services in obesity prevention: a grounded theory approach.[Abstract]
Pearce C. BMC Health Services Research 2021;21(1):111.
(The aim of this research was to examine whether and how hospital and community-based health services incorporate adult obesity prevention into policy and practice. An alternative systems-level approach is needed to align health service responses with contemporary approaches that address obesity prevention as a complex problem.)
The impact of household energy poverty on the mental health of parents of young children.
Journal of Public Health; 2021.
(Energy poverty increases the likelihood of depression in parents. These findings merit policy attention since a mental health burden is in itself important, and more widely, parental well-being can influence child development and outcomes.)
Raising awareness of funding for vulnerable two-year-old children.
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE); 2021.
(SCIE is helping the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) to raise awareness about the 15 hours funded early years provision, particularly to more families who are vulnerable. This programme improves the health, learning and development of disadvantaged two-year-old children as well as being beneficial for the parent.)
‘Do No Harm’: Lived Experiences and Impacts of FGM Safeguarding Policies and Procedures, Bristol study.
FORWARD UK; 2021.
(The research reveals worrying evidence that FGM safeguarding policies are inadvertently causing a great deal of harm to families, communities and young girls, both in Bristol and potentially across the UK. Their targeted and heavy-handed approach have increased scrutiny, suspicion and stigmatisation of families in many areas of their lives, from schools, to healthcare, to overseas travel.)
Still not safe: the public health response to youth violence.
The Children’s Commissioner; 2021.
(This report assesses how effectively existing infrastructure within local authorities is being used to deliver a public health approach to preventing gang involvement and youth violence. The Children’s Commissioner concludes that two years on from her last report into this issue and a year after the Prime Minister promised to ‘cut the head off the snake’ of county lines, thousands of children are still not being kept safe.)
Dementia profile: February 2021 update.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.
(Updated statistics on dementia prevalence, hospital admissions, care and mortality, at the national and subnational geographical areas in England. The dementia profile is designed to improve the availability and accessibility of information on dementia. The data is presented in an interactive tool that allows users to view and analyse it in a user-friendly format.)
Health and Care of People with Learning Disabilities 2019-20.
NHS Digital; 2021.
(The most recent release of the 2019-20 Health and Care of Learning Disability Publication. These are aggregated data on key health issues for people who are recorded by their GP as having a learning disability, and comparative data about a control group who are not recorded by their GP as having a learning disability.)
Statistics on Drug Misuse, England 2020.
NHS Digital; 2021.
[This report presents newly published information on hospital admissions attributable to drug-related mental health and behavioural disorders and on hospital admissions attributable to poisoning by illicit drugs.
The report also provides links to information on drug misuse among both adults and children from a variety of sources, including the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System and the Crime Survey for England and Wales (date range:01 Apr 2019 to 31 Mar 2020)]
Source: The King’s Fund; Health Management and Policy Alert
This guide, funded by the British Medical Association and posted on the Mental Health at Work website, aims to provide practical advice, hints and tips to help NHS leaders and line managers to create mentally healthy cultures and support better mental health. It includes information about mental health stigmas, and how to break them down. It is the first of a series of resources aimed at NHS leaders, managers and champions.
For more resources to support mental health at work visit Mentalhealthatwork.org.uk
The February bulletin on psychiatric nursing, produced by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, is now available to view and download.
For any issues accessing journal articles or Open Athens accounts please email: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk
A small conversation about mental health has the power to make a big difference. We know that the more conversations we have, the more myths we can bust and barriers we can break down, helping to end the isolation, shame and worthlessness that too many of us with mental health problems are made to feel.
Time to Talk Day is the day that we get the nation talking about mental health. This year’s event might look a little different, but at times like this open conversations about mental health are more important than ever. Your help is needed to start the conversation this Time to Talk Day – together we can end mental health stigma.
Click here for more information and to sign up for free resources to get people talking.

House of Commons Library; 2020.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9100/
Research briefing: links to relevant reports, policies and research on supporting children and young people with mental health issues. It also includes links to sources of further information and advice.
Keep up to date with current awareness:
Children and young people’s mental health – policy, CAMHS services, funding and education.
House of Commons Library; 2020.
(Research briefing outlining children and young people’s mental health policy.)
Child and adolescent mental health during COVID-19
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST); 2020.
(Charities and academics have expressed concerns that children’s mental health is disproportionately affected by the intervention measures used during the pandemic. Child and adolescent mental health may be compromised by factors such as strained family relationships, academic stress and reduced social contact with friends. Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) have been reduced during the pandemic. They are likely to be under strain to meet increased demand.)
Interventions to support children and young people who self-harm
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 3/11/2020
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=25593
(This evidence search report looks for publications on interventions to support children and young people (age 4-18) who self-harm, including school-based preventative approaches.)
The physical health and mental health bulletin December 2020, produced by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, is now available to view and download.
Source: King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert
Monitoring the Mental Health Act is the CQC’s annual report on the use of the Mental Health Act (MHA). It looks at how providers are caring for patients, and whether patients’ rights are being protected. This year’s annual report puts a specific focus on the impact that the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has had on patients detained under the MHA, and on the services that care for and treat them.
To read the report click here or to find out more information visit: https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/major-report/monitoring-mental-health-act-201920-mental-health-act-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_source=The%20King%27s%20Fund%20newsletters%20%28main%20account%29&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12013209_NEWSL_HMP%202020-12-04&dm_i=21A8,75HG9,3COYDR,SYKPX,1