The public health team supports the joint mental health commissioning team to improve public mental health and well-being and race equality. Following publication of the Marmot review and the previous Government’s mental health strategy, New Horizons, the public health and mental health commissioning teams used mental well-being evidence to develop a commissioning model to improve population well-being and reduce health inequalities.
How it works
NHS Bristol developed a model which highlighted that in order to achieve long-term efficiencies, investment is required in prevention and early intervention. Gaps or inefficiencies in the lower segments of the system result in greater costs at the higher and more costly end of the system. The model highlighted the need for a whole 
system approach to reducing costs in the long term. It also recognised the importance of securing a healthy, safe and sustainable environment, strong cohesive communities and the value of investing in children to ensure a healthier future.
The model is now being included in a commissioning toolkit to guide commissioning practice locally.
What it has achieved
The commissioning model is now a key part of the joint strategic needs assessment.
The teams plan to continue to join up primary mental healthcare service commissioning with public health, social care and civic networks through the commissioning model. In response to poor health outcomes and higher representation of men in secondary health care services, Bristol is developing a programme to raise awareness and improve outcomes for men’s mental well-being. It also plans to build on social prescribing programmes, supporting recovery, promoting mental well-being, avoiding relapse and crisis and reducing reliance on GPs.
Further information
You can read this case study in full in our recent report ‘Public mental health and well-being – the local perspective’. This report is available to download in our publications library.
If you would like further information on our work on public mental health and well-being, please contact Nicola Stevenson, senior policy and research officer, at Nicola.stevenson@nhsconfed.org.