South London Listens
South London Listens
Working together to promote recovery and prevent a mental ill-health crisis as result of the impact of Covid-19.
Covid-19 upended life as we know it. The mental health of many people has been impacted by the pandemic, whether through the virus itself, the impact on jobs or the economy, self-isolation or the tragedy of losing a loved one. Now we are facing other challenges, including the rising cost of living.
South London Listens is a partnership of both South London ICBs, three mental health trusts, local authorities and community groups across south London – formed as an urgent response to tackle the mental health impacts of Covid-19.
Working with strategic partner Citizens UK, the programme utilises a community organising approach to support health creation across south London. Since its inception it has been focused on tackle barriers to good mental health and wellbeing, but the work has also widened to support partnership working with anchor institutions to build power in tackling the socio-economic determinants of ill-health.
What is South London Listens?
South London Listens began in 2020 as an urgent response to the impact of the pandemic on our mental health launched by the three mental health Trusts in south London (South London and Maudsley, South West London and St Georges, and Oxleas).
Since 2020, through community meetings, group conversations and listening campaigns we have heard from more than 10,000 people across south London about the issues impacting on their health and wellbeing – and how we can support them to recover.
Five core priorities have been identified
- Loneliness, social isolation and digital exclusion
- Work and wages
- Children, young people and parental mental health
- Access to services
- Housing
South London Listens Taskforce
Collaboration is at the heart of the South London Listens programme and the Action Plan will be delivered in partnership by the community and all those who pledged support.
The programme is overseen by the South London Listens Taskforce, chaired by Ann Beasley CBE (Chair, South West London and St Georges NHS Trust) and Sir Norman Lamb (Chair, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust) is made up of representative from the three south London mental health Trusts, local authorities and the community.
