A summit bringing together mental health professionals, public health officials and organisations that support people in distress will take place in Cornwall next month.
The Mental Health Summit is scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026, and will be livestreamed on Cornwall Council’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
Representatives from organisations and agencies involved in mental health services and in supporting people experiencing mental distress will gather for the event.
Residents are being invited to submit questions in advance so that host Seb Noble, BBC Spotlight political reporter, can make sure the panel addresses the issues that matter most to people across Cornwall.
Cornwall Council Leader, Cllr Leigh Frost, said: “Mental health and wellbeing affects every community, every family and every generation. This summit will provide an opportunity to hear directly from experts, listen to residents and work together with partners on our shared ambition to improve mental wellbeing across Cornwall.”
Cornwall Council Cabinet lead for Community Safety and Public Health, Cllr Thalia Marrington, said: “The aim of the summit is to bring the key people together to identify and help deliver solutions to the ongoing issues Cornwall is dealing with. The open conversation will be an opportunity to build a shared understanding of the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities across the whole system.”
Cornwall Director of Public Health, Dr Eunan O’Neill, said: “Significant work is already underway through this year’s Director of Public Health Annual Report, the Mental Health Needs Assessment and the Suicide Prevention Strategy review. The summit will complement and strengthen these programmes, ensuring we listen to what matters to our residents and work together to support mental wellbeing.”
The summit aims to provide a clear, evidence-based overview of mental health, mental wellbeing and suicide prevention in Cornwall.
It will also explore wider factors that can influence mental wellbeing, including housing, employment, community connection, poverty and discrimination.
Organisers also hope to develop a Cornwall Mental Health Declaration, bringing together organisations involved in mental health services and support around shared goals and priorities.
Residents are asked to submit their questions through the Let’s Talk Cornwall page by 9am on Monday, October 5. The questions will help identify key themes that will form the basis of discussions at the summit.
The Mental Health Summit will be livestreamed on Cornwall Council’s Facebook and YouTube channels, allowing residents to watch the discussions online.
Cornwall Asks for Questions Ahead of Mental Health Summit