NFCC supports Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service in mental health pledge

Organisations signed up to the national agreement, itself overseen by the Office for Health and Improvement Disparities (OHID), recognise that factors such as unemployment, debt and drug misuse can significantly increase an individual’s chances of having poor mental health.

Having achieved Prevention Concordat status back in 2019 via its Mental Health Board, the NFCC has worked with the OHID to develop a framework that’s designed to support Fire and Rescue Services attain that same Prevention Concordat status.

Successful signatories to the Prevention Concordat pledge to:

*work across sectors with a wide range of partners in order to reduce the risks of preventable poor mental health

*use evidence to target resources where they’re most needed

*share good practice such that others can implement successful initiatives

*use regular monitoring and reporting to ensure stated Action Plans deliver improvements for communities

Ongoing commitment

Mark Thomas, mental health lead for the NFCC, commented: “I’m delighted to see both the NFCC and the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service confirm their ongoing commitment to collaborating with partners in order to promote good mental health through a prevention-focused approach.”

Thomas continued: “Members of our communities suffering from poor mental health are often at greater risk of coming to some form of harm. That being so, they require prevention-related assistance. The Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service and others signing up to the principles of the Prevention Concordat are sending a clear message that effective prevention can only be secured through a collaborative approach. ‘Every contact counts’.”

In its review of the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service’s application, which outlined cross-sector prevention and people-centred actions to be taken to improve mental well-being and create resilient communities, the Prevention Concordat Assessment Panel acknowledged that the Fire and Rescue Service is an active member of the Lincolnshire ICS mental health workstream and that a significant portion of work concerning the population level needs assessment would have happened in that forum.”

Further, the Assessment Panel was impressed with the breadth of the work conducted concerning key vulnerable groups, such as those with dementia and older adults. The internal offers of mental health support for Fire and Rescue Service staff with identified mental health-related issues is recognised as an example of good practice.

A good deal of partnership work is present across both local Government and the NHS to inform Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service’s practice and priorities concerning mental health.

The submission was welcomed as being from a sector currently not represented on the Prevention Concordat with the presence of important evidence-based initiatives orchestrated to improve public mental health, drive future practice and share learning with other partners in England.

Unique opportunity

Dan Moss, area manager for prevention and protection at the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, told Fire Safety Matters: “This Prevention Concordat offers a unique opportunity to fully integrate our work as a Fire and Rescue Service with like-minded partner organisations who also act to ensure the safety and security of those with mental health problems. We take our responsibilities under the Prevention Concordat very seriously, and we’re very proud to be the first Fire and Rescue Service to achieve this status.”

Moss added: “Mental health is just as important as physical health and we, as a Fire and Rescue Service, have a definite role to play in our community to support mental health and work to reduce health inequalities.”

One-in-six adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in their lifetime. This is influenced by the environment in which people are born, grow, live and work. Many of the associated problems can be prevented.

Signatories to the Prevention Concordat for Mental Health aim to address these wider determinants of mental well-being and work towards achieving a fairer and more equal society.

*Further information is available online at www.nfcc.org.uk and www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lincolnshire-fire-rescue