During the pandemic we collaborated with colleagues at the Institute for Mental Health to deliver two panel events, exploring the effects of Covid-19 and subsequent Government policies on mental health. Colleagues delved into newly established initiatives and programmes and discussed what the future holds.
1 July 2020:
The Institute for Policy and Engagement and Institute for Mental Health are hosting an online panel discussion that will explore the impact that the current COVID-19 crisis has had on mental health in the UK and how this will affect future policy making.
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, policy making is developing and reacting to issues arising across all sectors. Balancing the economy, the race to find a vaccine and public trust among other things, Government policies such as the new furlough scheme, social distancing rules and school closures are all affecting our mental health in varying ways.
We are pleased to welcome Alex Norris MP, Stevie Spring CBE(Mind Charity) and leading academic from the University of Nottingham, Dr Louise Thomson who will engage in a lively and thought provoking discussion on this topic. They will delve into current policies and the future of the nation's mental health as well as provide their views on how policy should support our mental health in the coming 6-12 months.
Speaker profile: Alex Norris MP
Alex has been the Labour and Co-operative MP for Nottingham North since June 2017. As part of the Shadow Health Team, he holds the portfolio for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care. Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Alex was a Nottingham City Councillor holding responsibility for Adults and Health and also worked as a Trade Union Organiser.
Speaker profile: Stevie Spring CBE
Stevie Spring CBE is Mind's Chairman. She chaired the Groundwork Federation for 8 years and BBC Children in Need for 10 years. A portfolio director, investor and adviser, Stevie was named by GQ magazine as one of the UK’s 100 most connected women and was on the Telegraph/Debretts list of Britain’s 500 most influential people. Originally a lawyer turned marketer, she has been CEO of two international media companies and served on numerous boards. Currently she chairs the British Council, remuneration for the Coop Group of Companies and Kino-mo - a global technology company specialising in 3D holography. Stevie is a Fellow of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising and of the Marketing Society, and holds an honorary doctorate for services to business.
Speaker profile: Dr Louise Thomson
Louise is Assistant Professor in Occupational Psychology and a Practitioner Psychologist (HCPC-registered).
She is currently working on the Well-being of the Workforce (WoW) Study investigating how people's work and employment has changed because of COVID-19, how this has affected their wellbeing and feelings about work, and what might be helping people to cope with the current uncertainties. Visit this website to find out more https://institutemh.org.uk/wow and follow them on Twitter @WoWStudyUK
Speaker profile: Professor Ellen Townsend
Ellen is a Professor of Psychology in the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham. She spent three years as a post-doctoral researcher in the Centre for Suicide Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. She PI of the Self-Harm Research Group (SHRG) and a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Mental Health in Nottingham.
27 November 2020:
The event:
As part of the Institute for Policy and Engagement's "Nottingham Digitally Engaged 2020" fortnight, this panel will offer insight from professionals and academics on the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted mental health.
As the country enters its second lockdown and we face the impact of the winter months on our NHS services and the nation’s wellbeing, can we look ahead and predict where the challenges and opportunities lie?
A panel of experts from the Institute of Mental Health will be discussing the impact of Covid-19 on our mental and physical health, the wellbeing of the nation’s workforce and how the pandemic has required a new way of thinking to solve healthcare and technological problems.
It will l delve into the effects of multi-morbidity, the link between physical and mental health problems, the impact of schemes such as the furlough programme and how digital and technological developments can support us in the future.
Speaker Profiles:
- Chair: Prof Roshan das Nair, Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Uni of Nottingham
- Dr Juliet Hassard, Occupational Psychology, University of Nottingham
- Dr Aislinn Bergin, Research Fellow, Mindtech
- Dr Sam Malins, Clinical Psychologist, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
To watch this lecture, please click this link