HEALTH MATTERS
I WANT to use this week’s column to urge you to mark Time to Talk Day this Thursday by talking openly about mental health.
Mental health problems affect one in four of us yet too many people are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless because of this. It can feel awkward to talk, but doesn’t have to be.
More than 100,000 people have already taken action by adding their story on the Time to Change website at www.time-tochange.org.uk/changemakers.
Now will you join them? Why not go along to an event? There may be something happening near you such as:
Time to change hubs – local organisations coming together to tackle mental ill health
Local events – events are taking place across England to tackle discrimination
Champion campaign groups – meeting across England to change attitudes towards mental health
To see all the events please go to www. time-to-change.org.uk/ get-involved/time-talk-day.
Want to help change attitudes towards mental health?
Here’s five simple ways:
Have a conversation about mental health
Become a time to change champion
Tell your story online Challenge stigmatising media and coverage
Get involved
Time to Talk has made a small video all about the day, which can be found at http://bit.ly/2uh5E9Q
If you’re wondering how you can support a colleague, friend or relative there’s some great information here: https:// www.time-to-change.org. uk/about-mental-health/ support-someone. This will give you useful tips on how you can support someone close to you.
Unfortunately, there are some myths around mental health which you can help dispel. These include:
People who have a mental health problem can’t work, whereas in fact we will all probably work with someone who has a mental health problem.
You can never recover. Yet many people with mental health problems have jobs, families and lead full lives.
People are usually violent and unpredictable with mental health problems.
The opposite is true as you are more likely to be harmed than harmful with a mental health problem such as schizophrenia.
For more information please visit www.time-tochange.org.uk
THE Cheshire East budget is due to be presented at full council in February.
All members have had various opportunities to be involved in the budget setting process over the past few months.
During the consultation town and parish councils, along with residents and other interested bodies, were also invited to make comments on the proposals.
These comments have been collated and are being taken into consideration whilst still maintaining a balanced budget.
The Council continues to face serious pressures on its demand led services.
Almost two-thirds of the annual budget goes to support our most vulnerable residents.
Providing care is a statutory service, but as Cheshire East has an older than average population, it faces higher than average costs of care.
The government recently said that there is an £8bn shortfall in social care; however this is yet to convert into support for local councils.
The change to a committee system has to be seamless and there are cross-party concerns that this could not be assured at this stage, therefore it has been thought prudent to delay the implementation until May 2021 and to build on the information gathered so far.
There is a mixed view amongst councillors as to whether there is a need for a Cheshire East Mayor.
A review into the role and costs is due to commence in the coming weeks.
As part of the climate emergency that the council signed up to in May we are looking to plant over 6,000 trees within this planting season.
This will include elder, willow, hazel, field maple and cherry...to name but a few.
Cheshire Fire and
Rescue Service is to have a new rapid response rescue unit stationed at Macclesfield with Bollington having a new animal rescue vehicle.
There will also be a phasing in of zero emission support vehicles.