You are invited to join National Voices and the Centre for Mental Health at 10am on Wednesday 16th June for the launch of #AskHowIAm, a report and campaign calling for compassionate conversations for all people living with long-term conditions.

We especially welcome:

Healthcare professionals caring for people with long-term conditions
System leaders, policy leads and commissioners designing or delivering services to meet the needs of people living with physical ill health
People living with long-term conditions, as well as their families and carers

Please register below to receive joining instructions for this free event.

What is the report? Ask How I Am: Supporting emotional health among people living with long-term conditions has been coproduced by National Voices and the Centre for Mental Health, with support from a range of long-term conditions charities. It details the mental health needs of people living with physical ill health. It shows the impact long-term conditions can have on people, their relationships and jobs; what helps; what support is already available and works; and what needs to change to better emotionally support people living with long-term physical ill-health.

What is the campaign? #AskHowIAm calls for compassionate conversations at all points of contact between healthcare professionals and people living with long-term conditions. We are asking every healthcare provider - nurses, doctors, and allied healthcare professionals – to properly, meaningfully ask people how they are feeling. And we are asking system leaders to make the necessary service changes to enable these vital conversations to take place, as well as to equip all healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to effectively support the range of emotional and mental health needs those living with long-term conditions may experience.

What is the format of the event? A one-hour event during which we will share the insights and recommendations stemming from the report, explain the campaign objectives and activities, show a video of people with lived experience of long-term conditions sharing their emotional health experiences and needs, and facilitate a guided interactive discussion among attendees about how they can act on the recommendations of the report and contribute to the campaign.

Who are National Voices? National Voices is England’s leading coalition of health and care charities, working together to democratise and humanise health and care. They have more than 170 members covering a diverse range of health conditions and communities, connecting them with the experiences of millions of people. They work together to strengthen the voices of patients, service users, carers, their families, and the voluntary organisations that work for them.

Who are Centre for Mental Health? Centre for Mental Health is an independent, not for profit thinktank dedicated to eradicating mental health inequalities by changing policy and practice. They use economic analysis, research and policy influence to make life better for people with mental illness.

#AskHowIAm: Report and Campaign Launch