NHS Lothian Mental Health and Well Being Team 8S: Promoting Mental Health and Well Being with Colleges and Universities in Lothian - a public health approach with transient populations Rachel King rachel.king@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk 0131 465 5503 NHS Lothian Mental Health and Well Being Team

Protective and Risk Factors of the Setting Protective: time to reflect; learning good for body, brain, social health; making new friends; broadening life expectations and possibilities Risks: being in transition; managing money and debt; being in isolation; peer pressures; exam/ academic stress Mental well being important regardless of mental health issues

8S Programme Working in 8 Settings - 4 Colleges, 4 Universities (originally 12, settings themselves are transient) Students plus staff = 80,000 people in Lothian = 9% Lothian’s population, and rising Differences in population in each setting Over 70 countries are represented Ages 14 to 90+ Mental health and access to services highlighted by each setting

Programme Overview- a public health approach Three key areas Mental health promotion - for students and staff, population approach Mental health inequalities - looking at specific needs within key population groups Partnership development - cross sector communication, understanding and working

Approach for All Areas Focusing on key issues for the settings- transitory populations, inequalities within the communities, specific challenges accessing support Building networks Strengthening partnerships and joint working Building capacity Sharing practice Being a resource across the settings

Issues around transition and health - individuals and communities Sense of belonging in the wider community Building social networks Having common understanding of what mental health is (and isn’t) Having similar expectations of what a health service might support Understanding health service set up /navigating this Crises can be challenging to manage

Issues around transition and health- services and planning Understanding support structures for populations in transition Influxes of transitory populations- ebb and flow of annual populations Case management over shifting annual or seasonal timetable Ensuring messages are disseminated in ever changing populations Reaching vulnerable or hidden populations within transitory groups Crises can be challenging to manage

Supporting mental health of populations in transition - examples from 8S Taking a settings approach- public health model – creating a sense of belonging Using people’s experience and understanding Focusing on inequalities- realisation of need key Through all developments- Building capacity in-house Building partnerships and relationships- within settings and beyond them Linking with third sector agencies, using local health care agencies

Supporting mental health of populations in transition - examples from 8S Influxes of transitory populations-forming partnerships to understand ebb and flow Case management- information sharing agreements, specific service developments eg eating disorders, focus on crises Ensuring messages are disseminated in ever changing populations- working closely with third sector and using local resources Reaching vulnerable or hidden populations within transitory groups Understanding support structures for populations in transition – raising awareness within NHS re student context and supports

Applying the learning Two main elements: Well-being focus as well as prevention- Is challenging for organisations to look at Shapes the way discourse and development happens Transitory nature of populations, versus fixed nature of services- Is challenging for services to respond to Can result in positive changes and partnerships

Applying the learning 2 Working with other transitory communities- Homeless populations Migrant or seasonal workers Gypsy-traveller communities Frequent attenders at A&E Prison populations

Concluding Thoughts University and College settings outside other streams of focus- 8S programme weaves them in - public mental health in action Non-clinical, non-individual well being focus is beneficial Looking at service provision and joint work between sectors necessary to change structure and focus Important to recognise transitory nature of populations Significant inequalities within populations –necessary focus