Staying in control of your life – how Essex is helping people manage their wellbeing and improve their mental health

For people experiencing problems such as low mood, stress or anxiety, short-term, early intervention can make a real difference in enabling them to maintain or regain control of their lives, by helping them manage their mental health and achieve positive outcomes. This has been the experience of Essex County Council’s adult mental health and wellbeing service, established in 2017.

Made up of a small team of social workers, community support workers, occupational therapists and employment specialists, the service operates on a self-referral, short-term intervention basis. Attend this session to find out:

• How the team has supported people to feel better, manage their moods, get into work or education or meet new people, while also achieving positive outcomes for carers.
• How the team’s practice is rooted in the social determinants of mental health and the Care Act’s wellbeing principle.
• How it is improving the knowledge, skills and confidence of the wider adult social care workforce in relation to mental health, through joint working, training and consultation.

Catherine Harrison, service manager, mental health, Essex County Council

Kelly Hierons, operational mental health team manager, Essex County Council

Emily Oliver, head of strategic commissioning & policy mental health, Essex County Council