A Sheffield GP with an interest in improving mental health services in the city has co-authored a national report published this week.

‘Cultivating Mental Health Promotion and Prevention in General Practice’ has been co-written by Sheffield GP and Mental Health Lead for NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Dr Steve Thomas, alongside other experts in the field, on behalf of the Ethics Foundation, the London Journal of Primary Care and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The report, which was launched at a Royal Collage of General Practice event in London last week, talks about the importance of improving the ability of Doctors and Nurses in GP surgeries to spot patients who may have mental health conditions. It highlights the support and interventions that could be put into place in general practice, which could as a result reduce illness, and save lives. It also outlines the importance of clinicians and other staff involved in front-line NHS work to be aware of their own mental health needs.

Dr Steve Thomas said: “There has long been recognition that mental health promotion and early intervention would be beneficial for developing whole community health and resilience. With up to 75% of lifetime mental ill health becoming apparent by the time a young person has reached the age of 24, early recognition and intervention is essential. This report and its twelve key messages aims to evidence that and I really hope that CCGs across the UK will take note and work with their health communities to make positive changes for the benefit of the public.”

The report calls for GPs to take a biopsychosocial approach to all patient consultations – recognising that good health care is not just purely physical. It also suggests they integrate mental health promotion into their daily work, work with community organisations who offer opportunities to improve community wellbeing and identify people at increased risk of mental disorders for support and screening.

Further information:

• The launch of the report was hosted by the RCGP, and introduced by Professor Nigel Mathers, Secretary of the RCGP and Lady Marina Marks, Founder of ETHICS. Key Speakers included Gregor Henderson, Director of Mental Health at Public Health England and Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists who both warmly welcomed the report as a major contribution to public mental health. Prof Rachel Jenkins, chair of ETHICS, summarised the report, Dr Steve Thomas presented the implications of the report for CCGs, Dr Shamini Gnani presented the implications for public health and general practice and Dr Brian Fisher outlined the importance and opportunities that community development affords.

• Good mental health is important for the educational achievement of children and their future prospects, for the physical health of the population, for the social capital of communities and for the economy.

• In the UK today 9.5% of children and 17.6% of adults have a mental disorder at any one time. Mental disorders in the UK cost around £100billion a year.

• Mental disorders are the leading cause of sickness and absence in the UK, leading to 77million sick days lost per year.