The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive an update from Healthwatch Newham regarding their Community Listening Ears programme. This initiative aims to gather insights into the mental health experiences of Newham residents.

Healthwatch Newham Update

The board was scheduled to hear about the findings of the Community Listening Ears (CLE) programme, a grassroot-led initiative by Healthwatch Newham volunteers. The CLE programme was developed to enhance Healthwatch's engagement with residents, building on previous research into participation in mental health support groups. The agenda indicated that data for this project was collected between December 2022 and February 2023.

The report was scheduled to focus on three key aspects of mental health in Newham:

• Relationships: Data from 34 participants was expected to be presented, with 65% reporting a negative impact on their mental health due to relationships in the past three years. The agenda also noted that 29% of participants stated they had felt lonelier since the pandemic, and only 6% had received support when seeking help, with some reporting being turned away. One participant's experience was quoted: I live by myself, as a single person. It is challenging in lockdown. Couldn't meet any person, living in home I feel anxious.
• Long-term Conditions: This section was scheduled to cover insights from 17 participants. All participants reportedly expressed negative emotions about living with a long-term condition, and 82% indicated that their condition affected their enjoyment of activities. The agenda highlighted that 71% of participants felt positively about talking to others with similar conditions, while nearly a quarter disagreed. A quote from a participant stated: I enjoy speaking to my peers I don't feel isolated and now that somebody there to support and help me.
• Cost-of-living Crisis: The agenda indicated that 38 participants contributed to this aspect of the report. It was scheduled to detail that 95% confirmed the cost of living affected their spending, with 92% reporting a negative impact. The report was also expected to cover that 89% of participants reported a loss of financial security, and while 87% were aware of available support, only 8% had accessed it, with some again reporting being turned away. A participant's perspective was to be shared: Everything is going up but not my benefits. I cannot afford anything.

The agenda also outlined several recommendations stemming from the CLE findings. These included reviewing available resources for community mental health services, improving the visibility and accessibility of information materials, particularly for non-English speakers and those with specific accessibility needs, and implementing educational campaigns to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding long-term conditions. The report was also expected to address understanding and addressing mental health stigma within Newham's diverse communities, potentially through the use of champions. Healthwatch Newham's continued engagement with the Somali community and strengthening partnerships with community organisations for holistic support were also noted as planned actions.

The full report, titled Mental Health in Newham, was scheduled to be published on the Healthwatch Newham website soon after the meeting. ¹