Across the Black Country region we have a rich industrial heritage with vibrant and proud communities. There are however significant levels of deprivation with 56% of people accessing mental health services, with many of those having multipleand complex health needs.

With the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan, coupled with a strong ambition to transform mental health services, the opportunity to turn the tide has never been greater.

We want to give people living with all types of mental illness better outcomes and better services across the Black Country. More specifically we want to:

• Improve access to universal and specialist mental health and mental wellbeing initiatives
• Increase focus on prevention and early intervention
• Reduce unwarranted variation - Making sure that patients have access to the right type of support no matter where the live
• Best use of beds – Developing services so people are supported to stay well in the community, however if a bed is needed ensuring there is one available locally and that they only stay in that bed for as long as they need to
• Address personality disorders and developing services so they can be more responsive to patients with a personality disorder diagnosis
• Ensure the best use of resources, avoiding duplication and being able to deliver at scale
• Mobilising more specialist mental health services across the Black Country

How will we do this?

Plans are progressing on bringing together the resources and expertise of local NHS mental health services that will see one provider of mental health services across the Black Country. 

Along with providers, our plans will see commissioners buy services as one, reducing variation and ensuring consistency of service.