Improving our mental health in 'new normal' post-pandemic world.

On Friday 21 January, Citizens Advice Portsmouth held its Annual Conference. This was an opportunity for us to come together with our team and our stakeholders; to reflect on what we have achieved and to think about what we need to do ongoing to align with the needs of our community.

This year we focused on the theme of Wellbeing in the 'new normal'.

Prior to 2020, wellbeing was not a high priority for many organisations but the Covid-19 pandemic radically changed that situation. So, what does wellbeing actually mean? The Government's Office of National Statistics states, "We describe well-being as 'how we are doing' as individuals, as communities and as a nation, and how sustainable that is for the future." Perhaps not surprisingly, their figures show that average ratings of wellbeing have deteriorated sharply over recent years and especially during the Covid-19 period.

Sandy Bramley (Our Chief Executive Officer) reported how Citizens Advice Portsmouth is uniquely positioned to help. In 2021, we assisted 9,451 clients with their problems and secured over £1.4 million in financial gains for them, primarily through welfare benefit awards and appeals, as well as debt write offs. We then heard inspirational talks from many of our advisors (MacMillan, Immigration, Home & Well, Positive Minds, Families Forces Project, Mental Health Ask and Money Advice) explaining the positive impact that they have on client wellbeing.

We were also extremely fortunate to be joined by two external speakers. Our first speaker, Dr. Thomas Richardson (Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Southampton), spoke to us about the psychology of the relationship between money and mental health problems. According to Dr. Richardson, it is likely that approximately 1,800 people in debt end their life by suicide each year in the UK. The increasing concerns about fuel poverty and general inflationary pressures will further impact these numbers. Dr. Thomas recommended 3 main areas where organisations such as ours can help: 1) Help clients feel more control of their financial situation – show what they can do and the changes they can make, 2) Deshame/destigmatise - normalise financial problems, tell clients how many people you see, and 3) Increase Hope – tell clients what could change and tell them about previous clients and positive outcomes. Our second speaker, Lizzie Butcher (Chair of Health and Wellbeing programme, Shaping Portsmouth), spoke to us about workplace health and wellbeing. Lizzie shared some amazing statistics: Did you know, for example, that 8.9 hours is the average time British people sit per day or that 1 in 6 deaths are caused by physical inactivity (the same as smoking)? Lizzie also reminded us that new post-lockdown wellbeing factors that we need to consider are loneliness and financial stress.

Stef Nientalowski (our Chair of Trustees) concluded the conference by summarising the importance of wellbeing to the individual (and hence to organisations and society as a whole) and reiterated that our aim at Citizens Advice Portsmouth is to improve the wellbeing of all our clients and our people. Stef then ended by thanking all the "simply wonderful" staff and volunteers work tirelessly to help those who are less fortunate than themselves.