CP2080-21 - Online Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

Background:

As part of this response to growing mental health need and as part of Recovery, the proposal is to commission and assess how an online Mental Health and Wellbeing platform for 18+ works alongside the wider Devon Community Mental Health Framework and wider recovery work, whether disadvantaged/ at risk populations use the service and whether it reduces demand on other commissioned services acting as a preventive tool and meets unmet mental health need. The online platform would be open to all adults but promoted directly to those in disadvantaged groups, meeting the council’s priority on fairness and equity.

• Disclaimer: The exact scope of the support service is yet to be agreed but please see below a list of key outcomes:
• 24/7 access to support that is responsive, and triages based on need
• Anonymous user access (unless safeguarding is required) across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
• Accessibility through a range of online devices
• Use a range of communication methods such as online forums, articles, text, online message and individual sessions which are outcome focuses and evidence based.
• Provide a universal offer but target the following hard-to-reach groups using a partnership approach: people from deprived areas (including rural deprivation), survivors of domestic abuse, carers, key workers (including teachers), Black and Asian minority Ethnic groups, people seeking or in receipt of universal credit and those mental health issues that are unable to access face to face support.
• The provider will need to conduct load and scale testing to ensure that their technology is robust enough to respond to spikes in demand
• The Provider will need to work to policies and practices that are culturally competent to ensure that all service users have an optimal service user experience.
• The provider will ensure that it is an ASD/Dementia friendly environment for those accessing and working in the organisation.