Have your say on city mental health services

A plan to steer the future of mental health services across Sunderland is being put together – with the views of Wearsiders needed to tailor it to their needs.

A new adult mental health strategy for the city is being put together by NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) with its leaders seeking for the views of residents to help them develop the proposals.

Dr Neil O’Brien, accountable officer for the CCG, said: “Good mental health is key to creating a healthy and vibrant city but demand on mental health services is rising and people’s needs are changing.

"We now need to reflect on how mental health services are currently provided to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the people who need help.

“Substantial national funding is to be made available by government to transform how adult mental health services are delivered, so this is an exciting and rare opportunity to significantly redesign mental health services and to do this, we need to hear from people who have had experience of these services.

“We want to know what you think is important for adult mental health services in Sunderland to help us shape our plans to make sure that we are providing the right service in the right way.”

A survey will run until Friday for people to share their views.

It can be found at www. sunderlandccg.nhs.uk/getinvolved or anyone who would like to receive a paper copy can telephone (0191) 512 8484 or email SUNCCG. sccg@nhs.net.