Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Public Health, which reviews progress against the overarching priorities identified in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Devon 2020-2025.

The Board noted the Report from the Director of Public Health, on the performance for the Board, which monitored the priorities identified in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Devon 2020-25.

The indicator list and performance summary within the full report set out the priorities, indicators and indicator types, and included a trend line, highlighting change over time.

The latest Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Report, along with this paper, was available on the Devon Health and Wellbeing website.

The Report monitored the four Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-25 priorities, and included breakdowns by local authority, district and trends over time. These priorities areas included:

·         Create opportunities for all

·         Healthy safe, strong and sustainable communities

·         Focus on mental health

·         Maintain good health for all

The following indicators had been updated since the last report to the Board:

·         Adult Smoking Prevalence, 2023 (not including vaping)

·         Suicide Rate, 2019/21

Discussion and questions from the Board and Officers included:

-       Officers would report back on statistics relating to occupation and suicide rates.

-       Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service were keen to support and contribute to the strategic priorities.

-       Access to mental health services - it was known that the majority of suicides in Devon had not engaged with any public services.

-       There was a lot of deprivation and remoteness in some areas of Devon, coupled with lone agricultural working, low employment and seasonal work that could be linked to the high rates of suicide in Devon.

-       The importance of raising awareness of the support available.

-       A suicide audit was undertaken which did collect background data.

-       Healthwatch Devon were currently conducting a survey for people to share their experiences of accessing public services and the feedback from this would be shared with the Board at a later date.

The Board, having received the last report on Suicide at their July 2022 meeting, requested future annual updates as from the July 2023 meeting.