More than 200 people come together in south west London to drive action on mental health inequalities
Yesterday, more than 200 mental health leaders, clinicians, community organisations, and people with lived experience of mental ill health gathered at Everyday Church in Wimbledon for the annual South West London Mental Health and Health Inequalities Conference.
Held following Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, under the theme ‘From Commitment to Action: Reducing Mental Health Inequalities in south west London’, the conference focused on tackling health inequalities in access, experience and outcomes across the mental health system.
Hosted by NHS South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG), the event brought together patients, carers and partners, from across health, local government and the voluntary sector for a full day of discussion, collaboration and shared learning. Sessions explored some of the most pressing challenges facing the system today, including racial inequities, barriers for Deaf people and people with learning disabilities, and the wider determinants of mental health such as housing and poverty.
A shared commitment to tackling inequalities
Opening the conference, speakers including Andrew Bland, Chief Executive of NHS South East London and NHS South West London ICBs, Vanessa Ford MBE, Chief Executive for South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, and partners from the voluntary sector and lived experience community set out the scale of the challenge and the need for collective action.
Opening the conference Vanessa Ford said:
This conference is a powerful reminder that partnership is essential if we are to tackle mental health inequalities and deliver meaningful change. We know that serious mental illness remains one of the most significant health inequalities, and that too many people – particularly those from global majority communities – continue to face barriers to accessing timely, compassionate care. Over the past year, we have begun to take important steps forward, working with our partners to improve access to care, strengthen community-based support and reduce inequities in crisis and inpatient services. But we are still at an early stage, and there is much more to do. By working together across communities, services and sectors, and by listening to lived experience, we can turn our commitments into action and build a fairer, more equitable mental health system for everyone in south west London.
Supporting this commitment, Andrew Bland added:
Too many people, particularly in underserved communities, still face barriers to getting the mental health support they need. Reducing health inequalities means building support around local communities, not just clinical settings. By working more closely with grassroots organisations, local authorities and community partners – including through the South London Listens movement – we can provide more joined-up support closer to where people live. This conference is an important opportunity to bring partners together from across south west London to strengthen neighbourhood working and improve mental wellbeing across every part of community life.
And Delores, a Lived Experience speaker at the conference, described her experiences of accessing mental healthcare as a global majority person, said:
When I was first unwell, if I had heard from someone who looked like me and experienced the same thing as me, I would’ve recognised that I had a mental health condition and would have asked for help. My message is please ask for help, support is available for you – and it’s better to get help early than to leave things to escalate. I am passionate in speaking about this as there are so many communities affected by mental and physical health issues – and the two are just as important as each other.
Voices from community organisations and lived experience
Community partners and people with lived experience were central to the day, sharing their insight, prompting creative and insightful conversations and leading sessions throughout the programme.
Sound Minds, a user-led mental health charity, led a session on inpatient recovery and the role of peer support, highlighting their Canerows project which supports people leaving hospital and those needing short-term community support.
A spokesperson for Sound Minds said:
We were delighted to be part of today’s conference, which strengthens our partnership with the Trust and other community organisations in south west London. Tackling health inequalities in mental health is a key part of our work at Sound Minds and it was great to share our approach, as well as hearing directly from attendees how health inequalities have impacted them, and what they want to see from support and services to improve this.
A day of collaboration and action
Attendees took part in a wide range of breakout sessions across three themed blocks, reflecting the conference’s focus on understanding inequalities, sharing what works, and designing future solutions.
Sessions explored:
- Racial inequality in mental health, including disparities in detention, access and experience of care
- Barriers faced by Deaf people and people with learning disabilities in accessing equitable support
- The role of peer support, Recovery Cafés and community organisations in preventing crisis
- The importance of building trust in reducing barriers to access
- Building a culturally capable workforce and embedding anti-racist practice
- Addressing the physical health gap for people with serious mental illness
- Tackling wider determinants such as housing, poverty and social exclusion
Rich discussions in workshops prompted more than 30 pieces of feedback, which will now support the development of the Trust’s Health Inequalities Strategic Plan, and be seen and discussed by the Trust’s Health Inequalities Advisory Panel. Outputs will also be shared with the South West London Partnership Delivery Group which shapes the delivery of mental healthcare across South West London.
This feedback included important points on:
- Racial inequality – we must confront the stark disproportionality in use of the Mental Health Act, challenge systemic bias across services, and rebuild trust with communities to reduce coercive and restrictive interventions.
- Physical health – we must recognise the deep connection between physical and mental health, and address the barriers people with mental ill health face in accessing physical healthcare, which too often leads to trauma, distress and disengagement from services.
- Inpatient recovery – services need to work together far more effectively, with clearer communication and joined-up pathways, so patients understand their recovery journey and know what support is available at every stage.
- Community hubs – trust is built through empathy, kindness and genuine human connection. People are more likely to seek support when they feel seen, heard and welcomed in safe, non-judgemental spaces within their communities.
- Deaf health inequality – Deaf service users must be involved in shaping services from the outset, not as an afterthought, and services must be genuinely accessible, inclusive and responsive to their communication needs.
- Learning disability and mental health equity – we must recognise and respect individual needs and experiences, and commit to ongoing, meaningful conversations that place people at the centre of their care and support.
The programme also highlighted innovative local initiatives, including community hubs, neighbourhood working models, and services supporting children, young people and families.
The day concluded with a final discussion focused on accountability and next steps, bringing together senior leaders, partners and lived experience voices to reflect on how the system can move from commitment to sustained action.
Download the workshop presentation slides
Session 1
- Deaf people and equitable mental health care
- Learning Disability and Mental Health Equity
- PCREF and Health Inequalities Strategic Plan
- Racial Inequality in Mental Health
Session 2
- Building a Culturally Capable Workforce
- Closing the Physical Health Gap in SMI
- EMHIP Community Hubs as Trusted Interfaces
- Inpatient recovery through peer support
Session 3
