Collection

Public mental health

Documents to support national and local organisations to improve the public’s mental health, and improve the lives of people with mental health problems.

• From: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Published: 9 October 2018
• Last updated: 27 October 2023 — See all updates

The Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) supports the view that everyone, irrespective of where they live, should have the opportunity to achieve good mental health and wellbeing.

Our work covers the 3 key overlapping areas of public mental health across the life course:

• mental health promotion
• prevention of mental health problems and suicide prevention
• reducing premature mortality, supporting recovery and improving inclusion of people living with mental health problems

We have a range of resources available to support national and local organisations and work towards the commitments within the NHS Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, NHS Long Term Plan and the Prevention Green Paper.

OHID is a founding member of Equally Well UK and leads mental health campaigns and digital resources for adults and young people, including Every Mind Matters.

Further resources are included in these additional mental health collections:

• Suicide prevention
• Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health

Please note that this contact address is for non-medical queries. For non-urgent personal medical advice, visit the NHS website or call NHS 111 or discuss with your GP.

Data and intelligence

Data that can be used in the commissioning, planning and benchmarking of local mental health services and interventions. OHID’s mental health profiling tools and Public Health Outcomes Framework are additional resources.

• Mental health and wellbeing: JSNA toolkit
  • 25 October 2019
  • Guidance
• Severe mental illness (SMI) and physical health inequalities
  • 27 September 2018
  • Research and analysis
• Psychosis data report
  • 17 October 2016
  • Research and analysis

Reducing premature mortality of people with mental health problems

OHID promotes action to improve the lives of people with a mental health problem and reduce inequalities. The focus is on reducing premature mortality, supporting recovery and improving inclusion of people living with mental health problems. The PHE Screening Blog addresses how to make screening more accessible for people with a severe mental illness.

• Health matters: reducing health inequalities in mental illness
  • 18 December 2018
  • Guidance
• Smoking cessation in secondary care: mental health settings
  • 9 October 2018
  • Guidance
• Health matters: tobacco and alcohol CQUIN
  • 21 March 2019
  • Guidance
• People with co-occurring conditions: commission and provide services
  • 26 July 2017
  • Guidance
• Obesity in mental health secure units
  • 15 February 2017
  • Guidance

Preconception, perinatal, and children and young people’s mental health

OHID has developed resources to promote the mental health of children, young people and families, as well as support the mental health of women before, during and after pregnancy. This includes the perinatal and children and young people’s mental health Fingertips profiles.

• Children and young people’s mental health: prevention evidence
  • 30 October 2019
  • Guidance
• Preconception care: making the case
  • 5 November 2019
  • Guidance
• Improving the mental health of children and young people
  • 6 December 2016
  • Guidance
• Health behaviour in school age children (HBSC): data analysis
  • 22 June 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Measuring the mental wellbeing of children and young people
  • 2 October 2015
  • Guidance
• Promoting children and young people's mental health and wellbeing
  • 16 November 2023
  • Guidance
• Supporting public health: children, young people and families
  • 19 May 2021
  • Guidance
• School nursing: public health services
  • 31 March 2014
  • Guidance

Workforce development

OHID promotes the growth of a confident, competent and cross-sector workforce in public mental health.

• Public mental health leadership and workforce development framework
  • 29 August 2018
  • Research and analysis
• Making Every Contact Count (MECC): practical resources
  • 4 March 2020
  • Guidance

Wider determinants of health

OHID promotes understanding that wider determinants, such as employment and housing, can also impact on mental health.

• Psychosocial pathways and health outcomes
  • 27 September 2017
  • Guidance
• Health and wellbeing: a guide to community-centred approaches
  • 11 February 2015
  • Research and analysis
• Local action on health inequalities: evidence papers
  • 29 July 2020
  • Research and analysis

Healthcare interventions

Information to help healthcare professionals improve physical and mental health and wellbeing.

• Wellbeing and mental health: applying All Our Health
  • 28 February 2022
  • Guidance

Published 9 October 2018
Last updated 27 October 2023 + show all updates

1. 27 October 2023

   Removed the line 'For further information about these resources, contact publicmentalhealth@dhsc.gov.uk', as email address is no longer in use.

2. 13 February 2023

   Pages updated to reflect the transition of Public Mental Health from PHE to OHID.

3. 1 April 2019

   Updated collection with new documents and information across all groups.

4. 29 October 2018

   Added Every Mind Matters blog link.

5. 9 October 2018

   First published.