The Panel will consider a report which provides it with an update on Team Colchester’s work to explore developing a new Transport Interchange for Colchester City Centre, and which also updates on other related schemes including improvements to the St Botolph’s Circus area and to walking and cycling provision.

Report to follow by way of a supplementary agenda. 

The Panel will consider a report which sets out the option for weed control in the future, prior to making a recommendation to Cabinet. 

Full Council to note the schedule of portfolio holder decisions covering the period 8 July 2025 - 7 October 2025.

Motion G

Proposer: Councillor Çufoglu

Across the UK, there is an undeniable Mental Health crisis, and Colchester is at its epicentre.

• The latest data shows that since 2012, Colchester has kept the top rank in “Mental health: QOF prevalence (all ages).

• Since 2015/2016, Colchester’s rate for admission episodes for mental health and behavioural disorders due to the use of alcohol (male) has been significantly higher than Chelmsford, Essex and East of England, and England average. And since 2018/2019, Colchester’s rate for mental health and behavioural disorders due to the use of alcohol(female) is higher than the Chelmsford, Essex and East England average.

• Since 2012/2013, Colchester has had a higher rate of Emergency Hospital Admissions for Intentional Self-Harm (female) than Chelmsford, Essex, and the East of England, and since 2020/2021, higher than England’s average. Since 2023/2024, Colchester has had a higher rate of Emergency Hospital Admissions for Intentional Self-Harm (male) than Chelmsford, Essex, in the East of England. Overall, since 2020/2021, Colchester has a higher value for emergency hospital admission for intentional self-harm (all persons) than Chelmsford, Essex, East of England and England average.

• Since 2022/2023, hospital admissions as a result of self-harm (10-24 years old) (male) in Colchester have sharply increased. As of 2023/2024, the rate has increased significantly and is higher than in Chelmsford, Essex, the East of England, and England.

• Since 2022/2023, hospital admissions as a result of self-harm (10-24 years old) (female) are on a gradual (479.1 per 100,000 population in 2022/2023 to 414 per 100,000 population in 2023/2024) fall, but continue to have a rate higher than Essex, Chelmsford, and East of England. Colchester rates for female hospital admission as a result of self-harm (828 people per 200,000 population) are almost 3 times higher than male hospital admission (297.8 people per 200,000 population).

• Since 2022/2023, hospital admissions for mental health conditions (male, 0-17 years old) have rocketed and are almost 3 times the Essex average. Colchester’s rate for females (0-17) was significantly higher than Chelmsford, Essex, East of England and England. Colchester’s (all persons) rate is higher than Chelmsford, East of England and England's average and almost double the Essex rate.

• Since 2021, Colchester’s rate for “the estimated dementia diagnosis rate (aged 65 and over)” is higher than the East of England, Essex and England and significantly higher than Chelmsford. Similarly, since 2021, Colchester, “smoking prevalence in adults with a long-term mental health condition (18+)—current smokers” has sharply increased and is now higher than the country and regional average. 

• This Council acknowledges that, according to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2019 – Colchester Local Authority Profile, the rate for emergency hospital admissions due to violence was the second-highest rate compared across the Essex districts and higher than the emergency hospital admission rate for Essex as a whole.

• This Council acknowledges that according to the JSNA 2019—Colchester Profile, the rate of hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries in children aged under 15 was the highest rate compared across the Districts in Essex and higher than the rates across Essex and England. The rate among females was also the highest in the Essex Districts and exceeded the England average.

• This Council recognises that suicide is the biggest killer of young men in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics’ report on “Leading causes of death, UK: 2001 to 2018”, suicide and injury or poisoning of undetermined intent were the leading causes of death for both males and females aged 20 to 34 years in the UK, for all years observed. We also acknowledge that according to the JSNA 2019 – Colchester Profile, Colchester was ranked as having the 4th highest suicide rate among males compared to that across the other Essex Districts, with a higher rate than England’s and across Essex as a whole. 

• This Council acknowledges that LGBTIQA+ people are more likely to have contact with the mental health system and are at much higher risk of mental health issues, self-harm and suicidal ideation than heterosexual people. They are also more likely to come up against adverse reactions from mental health staff.

• This Council acknowledges that people from the global majority are another identified group that is also more likely to have contact with mental health services. Specific communities are more at risk of developing certain mental health conditions, like psychosis.

• This Council also recognises and cherishes the fact that Colchester is proudly home to refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable migrants. We acknowledge that members of these groups can be just as marginalised within mental health services as within other services in the UK. These groups are under-represented in terms of receiving mental health support, and we recognise the rights of all people using mental health services for whom English is not their first language to have access to interpreters where needed.

• This Council recognises that there is much stigma surrounding mental health difficulties, and this adversely affects those experiencing these issues.

• This Council also recognises the high levels of mental health needs within the population that comes into contact with the Criminal Justice System. For example, one in three young offenders has an unmet mental health need at the time of the offence, and only a minute percentage of reported cases of child sexual and domestic violence cases reach a court. 

Council believes that:

·  Access to Mental Health services and support is not an option; it’s a fundamental Human Right.

· Across the UK, there is an undeniable Mental Health crisis, and Colchester is at its epicentre.

·  The global call made by the Human Rights Council of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe that identifies mental health as a basic Human Right will define services and ensure parity with physical health in our care system.

Council resolves to:

1. Call on the Leader of the Council to lobby the Government on behalf of the Council for Mental Health to be recognised as a fundamental Human Right and to call on the Government and the NHS to ensure resources are made available to support Colchester’s mental health, wellbeing and local mental health services, including housing, life quality and employment.

2. Urge relevant bodies to take preventative action and collective responsibility, and promote this approach. This council would support organisations and services aimed at reaching out to vulnerable groups, including young men, women, LGBTIQA+ people and individuals from the Global Majority.

3. Ensure that, as a local council, we work with all the relevant stakeholders to take preventative action in terms of well-known suicide spots and address root causes.

4. Work towards ensuring that guidance for good practice is included in staff training and that LGBTIQA+ community-specific health programs are funded and able to identify and support at-risk individuals.

5. Urge relevant public bodies to fund initiatives to reduce barriers for individuals from the Global Majority in receiving care by instituting community-specific outreach programs focused on raising awareness and reducing the stigma of mental health problems. Equally, urge relevant public bodies to more clearly link the deprivation and exclusion of specific communities to the prevalence of mental health problems, and addressing those issues is key to addressing mental health issues.

6. Work alongside charities and organisations that challenge the stigma around mental health. This council would support several measures, including mental health awareness training within the public sector and workplace mentorship frameworks to support employees experiencing mental health difficulties. This council would also support people with lived experience of mental health difficulties sharing their experiences, encouraging a more open dialogue on the issue in broader society.

7. Work with community groups supporting young people, victims of sexual crime and domestic violence, to make counselling and advice services more accessible and supported by local authorities. This council will encourage specialist sexual violence and abuse training and awareness for frontline staff within local authorities, organisations and institutions with a sphere of influence.

8. Working in partnership with the local NHS, the Council will strive to ensure that Colchester residents have access to and are aware of the existing mental health services and support available.

9. Urge relevant bodies to promote the WAMHS (Wellbeing and Mental Health in Schools programme) service, which is available to every child in a Colchester school and helps meet the mental health needs of all students, staff, and the parent community.

10. Advocate for local businesses and organisations in adopting and implementing mental health-promoting policies and training.

11. Support a Colchester Mental Health Week to coincide with World Mental Health Day each October. Working with partners, the day will aim to identify the impact social inequalities have on communities' mental health, promote support providers, ensure suicide prevention programmes are identified, and work with existing local mental health networks and organisations to improve outreach, accessibility, and the support available.

12. Approve the formation of a cross-party Mental Health Ambassadors -  Advisory and Advocacy Group to advocate for people with mental health conditions concerning housing provision, employment and other local services. Their role will also be to represent the interests of those with mental health conditions whenever decisions are made locally. Appointing Mental Health Ambassadors would encourage other neighbouring councils in Essex. The Terms of Reference of the Group to be agreed with the Group Leaders before it commences work.

The motion relates to a non-executive matter and will be debated and determined by Full Council.