PMHIC parliamentary launch
In March 2022, we held a parliamentary launch for the Public Mental Health Implementation Centre (PMHIC) in Westminster. Find out more about the PMHIC and its launch here, including photographs and videos.
Left to right: Jonathan Gullis (MP for Stoke-on-Trent North), Abiola Awojobi-Johnson (PMHIC Carer Representative), Dr Peter Byrne (Joint Clinical and Strategic Director of the PMHIC) and Dr Trudi Seneviratne (Registrar, RCPsych)
The College established the PMHIC to tackle an ever-growing implementation gap, whereby only a minority of people in the UK with mental disorder receive treatment, and far fewer have access to appropriate interventions to prevent such conditions arising or to promote mental wellbeing.
The launch was attended by around 70 stakeholders and potential future collaborators. This included 11 parliamentarians among whom was Gillian Keegan MP, Minister of State for Mental Health and Social Care. The event and its range of attendees reflected our commitment to working collaboratively with others to improve the mental health needs of the UK population.
The attendees were welcomed by Jonathan Gullis MP (Stoke-on-Trent North), who sponsored the event. Other speakers included Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE (RCPsych Registrar), Dr Peter Byrne (Joint Clinical and Strategic Director of the PMHIC) and Abiola Awojobi-Johnson (member of the PMHIC Advisory Board and PMHIC Carer Representative).
The launch event coincided with the publication of the PMHIC's first official briefing paper, Public mental health implementation – a new centre and new opportunities, which describes the aims of the PMHIC and the areas of work on which it will focus.
Attendees discussing the PMHIC briefing paper, Public Mental Health Implementation: A New Centre and New Opportunities
Darren Henry (MP for Broxtowe) and George Roycroft (Director of Strategic Communications [Interim], RCPsych)
Dr Trudi Seneviratne (Registrar, RCPsych)
Dr Peter Byrne (Joint Clinical and Strategic Director of the PMHIC)
Left to right: Jonathan Gullis (MP for Stoke-on-Trent North), Abiola Awojobi-Johnson (PMHIC Carer Representative), Dr Peter Byrne and Dr Trudi Seneviratne
Left to right: Dr Shubulade Smith (Clinical and Strategic Director of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, RCPsych), Gillian Keegan (MP for Chichester, and Minister of State for Care and Mental Health) and Dr Peter Byrne
Dr Rob Saunders (middle; Lecturer in Mental Health Data Science, University College London) and Prof. Dame Clare Gerarda (right; President of the Royal College of General Practitioners) in conversation with an attendee
Dr Dennis Ougrin (left; CAMHS consultant psychiatrist), Dr Christina Kyriakidou (middle; Consultant Psychiatrist Complex Care, South London Partnership – Mental Health), Dr Abdi Sanati (right; Faculty of General Adult Psychiatry, Chair of Philosophy Special Interest Group, Royal College of Psychiatrists).
Left to right: George Roycroft, Sir Peter Bottomley (MP for Worthing West) and Peter Hand (Public Affairs and Stakeholder Manager, RCPsych)
Left to right: Salimah Lalji (Head of External Affairs, RCPsych), Dr Jennifer Dykxhoorn (Senior Research Fellow, Primary Care & Population Health Institute of Epidemiology & Health, University College London) and fellow attendees
Prof. Dame Clare Gerarda and Dr Shubulade Smith
Dr Samia Latif (right; Assistant Academic Registrar, UK Faculty of Public Health) in conversation with a fellow attendee
Left to right: Hazel Cheeseman (Deputy Chief Executive, Action on Smoking and Health [ASH]), Dr Jed Boardman (Advisory Board Member, PMHIC) and an attendee
Left to right: Peter Hand, Darren Henry MP, George Roycroft and a parliamentarian
Attendees, including a representative from Rethink Mental Illness, conversing with Harry Burnham (Parliamentary Researcher to Jonathan Gullis MP)
Left to right: Prof. Steve Pilling (Academic and Strategic Director, NCCMH), Tom Ayers (Director, NCCMH) and Dr Jed Boardman
Left to right: Dr Helen Crimlisk (Faculty of General Adult Psychiatry, RCPsycH), Stephen Jones (UK Professional Lead for Mental Health, Royal College of Nursing) and Dr Trudi Seneviratne
Dr Peter Byrne (Joint Clinical and Strategic Director of the PMHIC)
Abiola Awojobi-Johnson (PMHIC Carer Representative)
Dr Trudi Seneveiratne (Registrar, RCPsych)
Jonathan Gullis (MP for Stoke-on-Trent North)