The new Health and Wellbeing strategy, which will run until 2022, has been produced following feedback from a public consultation and changes to health service funding. It has also been presented to the Society, Environment, and Council Development Executive Advisory Board (EAB) amongst other partner organisations.

The priorities remain current and in line with those of the Surrey Health and Wellbeing Board - although new issues have been taken into account and are reflected in the newly revised strategy. The main changes proposed are:

  1. Combining the previous tobacco and alcohol misuses priority into a broader substance misuse priority which includes new psychoactive substances
  2. Including mental health as a specific theme in the health inequalities priority
  3. Including air quality in the road safety priority

The Council is also celebrating the successful delivery of Surrey-wide projects such as ‘Get active 50+’ , which aims to increase physical activity in the over 50s, and ‘Guildford First’, a group set up to reduce stigma associated with mental health issues and improve access to services.

In line with this, we are also supporting a ‘Time to Change’ - a national campaign which aims to change attitudes about mental health and encourages everyone to seek support when needed.

Cllr Iseult Roche, Lead Cllr for Project Aspire, Health, and Sport says: “It’s been reported that as many as nine in ten people with a mental health problem experience stigma and discrimination. This is unacceptable, and we want to help stop the sense of isolation and fear that many people with mental health problems face, and also their families and partners. There are lots of things people can do to help us spread the word about Time to Change - to get people talking about mental health, and supporting friends, family or colleagues.”

James Whiteman, Managing Director of Guildford Council, showed the Council’s support to the project by signing a pledge on Monday 12 June, alongside representatives from Time to Change, which read:

‘Guildford Borough Council aims to promote and protect the mental wellbeing of our staff, treating them fairly regardless of their mental health status. Guildford Borough Council aims to promote a culture based on trust, confidentiality, support and mutual respect, which will allow employees with mental health problems to feel able to report difficulties without fear of discrimination or reprisal, creating an open and non-discriminatory environment.’

Pictured above are Cllr Iseult Roche and Cllr Michael Illman, showing their support for the ‘Time to Change’ pledge. 

Published on Wednesday 28 June.