South West London CCG Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21

patients, young people from local schools and partners from Local Authorities, education and voluntary sectors. Following this summit, the South London Covid-19 Preventing Mental-ill Health Taskforce was created with the aim of preventing thousands of people’s lives being affected by mental illness and to develop a long-term programme to protect our communities’ mental health. The Taskforce is made up of representatives from NHS South West London CCG, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, local authorities, Healthwatch, Public Health England, Citizens UK and experts by experience. The taskforce identified six key themes and areas for action: • Social isolation, loneliness, and community involvement. • Helping people who are at risk of losing their jobs cope. • Housing insecurity and environment. • Supporting disadvantaged communities and groups. • Supporting families, children, and young people. • Developing a long-term, joined-up approach to prevention. In November 2020, the South London Mental Health and Community Partnership launched South London Listens, a major listening campaign which aims to find out how Covid-19 has specifically affected the mental health of South Londoners and to identify key issues that need addressing. NHS South West London CCG has supported and been an active participant in South London Listens. More than 5,000 people have taken part in the initiative, and the partnership is now working with local people and community groups to co-produce solutions that will be published as part of a two-year action plan in Summer 2021. Children and young people’s mental health The CCG, working with the South West London Health and Care Partnership, has made children and young people’s mental health and well-being a shared health promotion and prevention priority. Our aim is to improve children and young people’s mental health by starting earlier and giving them the skills, they need to be resilient and thrive. We have listened to young people, their families, teachers, and frontline professionals to develop a ‘whole school’ approach. This approach brings together school leaders with health and social care professionals to deliver training and support for children and young people, their families, and teachers. The programme has been running since 2018, gradually extending to more schools across the patch. Watch our video about our whole school approach to children and young people’s mental health. The pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of children and young people. Lockdown and schools being closed have created challenges including fears of infection, parental issues such as Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 | 37