Mentally Healthier Councils Network

Local councils are responsible for places and services critical to people’s safety, health and wellbeing – and are therefore one of the most important influencers of people’s mental health.

Through our Mentally Healthier Councils Network, we bring together people working in local government all over the country to champion mental health in their communities. The Network, funded by The Health Foundation, is free to join and membership is open to council officers as well as elected councillors.

The Mentally Healthier Councils Network is a vibrant learning community which offers members training, resources and webinars to share best practice, learn from and inspire each other in how to create better mental health at the local level. Our members are doing amazing work to boost mental health in their communities. By widening access to green spaces and active travel options, improving support for people with substance use problems, tackling child poverty, and so much more, councils are committing to make mental health a priority and improve people’s lives.


Illustrations of people enjoying community green and play spaces. Text reads: Framework for a mentally healthier council: Strengthen accountability; Tackle poverty; Improve the environment; Support prevention
and early intervention; Embed equity and inclusion. 1.  Embed a mental health in all policies approach. 2.  Publish a recent mental health needs assessment and strategy. 3.  Adopt the Living Wage Foundation accreditation. 4.  Develop and implement an anti-poverty strategy. 5.  Ensure planning policies actively promote safe and affordable housing. 6.  Adopt planning policies that expand green, play and community spaces. 
7.  Provide high-quality, free parenting support. 8.  Ensure sustained investment in early support mental health hubs. 9.  Champion a whole school and college approach to mental health. 10. Adopt a prevention-focused approach to reducing mental health inequalities.

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