Barking and Dagenham Council at its Assembly last night, Wednesday 30 January, committed to a Charter for mental health.

This follows the launch of the Charter on World Mental Health Day in October last year. The Charter will receive further support when partner organisations such as the NHS, NELFT, MIND, Lifeline and Healthwatch meet in February to commit to it.

We will challenge such perceptions and supporting those affected

The Charter has been developed with help from Cllr Andrew Achilleos to highlight the range of support and services available in the borough. Cllr Chris Rice has been appointed as the new Mental Health Champion. He will represent the council and the interests of residents on the Board of NELFT and will also meet regularly with service users and providers to further understand the challenges in Barking and Dagenham.

The Charter supports the Thrive LDN six aspirations, which address support for Londoners to maintain good mental health, as well as developing a programme to stamp out mental health stigma and discrimination. It also promotes work with schools and youth organisations to get young people involved, using digital technology to boost Londoners’ access to mental health support and services.

The Charter places an emphasis on working with employers to improve mental health in the work place, and a commitment to working with partner organisations to reduce the number of suicides in London.

Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health integration, said: “Mental health affects one in four people and is an invisible affliction seen by some in society as a stigma. We will not tolerate people affected by mental ill health being treated in this manner and will challenge such perceptions while actively supporting those affected. 

“By signing up to the Charter we are making an important public statement of our intent to continue to support residents and employees affected by mental ill health.”