Hastings councillor to become mental health champion?

A Hastings councillor is calling for the authority to do more for mental health awareness and support with a number of proposals.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Feb 2016, 15:15 BST

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Hastings Borough Councillor Sue BeaneyHastings Borough Councillor Sue Beaney
Hastings Borough Councillor Sue Beaney

Sue Beaney wants Hastings Borough Council to become even more supportive of people with mental health through pledges and a mental health champion.

The champion would be one of the elected members of the council and would work across the local authority to promote the cause.

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Other initiatives include signing the Local Authorities Mental Health Challenge, and identifying a member of staff within the council to act as lead officer for mental health.

Cllr Beaney made the proposals through a motion to the full council meeting on Wednesday (February 10), which was seconded by Cllr Alan Roberts.

In her motion, Cllr Beaney said: “As a local authority we have a crucial role to play in improving the mental health of everyone in our community and tackling some of the widest and most entrenched inequalities in health.

“Mental health should be a priority across all the local authority’s areas of responsibility, including; housing, community safety and planning.

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“All councillors, whether members of the executive or scrutiny and in our community and casework roles, can play a positive role in championing mental health on an individual and strategic basis.”

Other more general proposals Cllr Beaney suggested are supporting positive mental health in our community, including in schools, neighbourhoods and workplaces; working to reduce inequalities in mental health; tackling discrimination on the grounds of mental health in our community; listening to people of all ages and backgrounds about what they need for better mental health; and signing up to the Time to Change pledge.

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