Public Health Commissioning Intentions 2020 - Wellbeing Focus Groups report

Between June and July 2018, we held focus groups and interviews with 66 people from across Nottinghamshire to understand the barriers they faced when accessing support for stopping smoking, reducing alcohol use, managing weight and improving mental wellbeing.

The report found that many people struggled to access services because they did not know where to go, experienced long waits, faced financial or travel barriers, or felt anxiety and stigma when asking for help. Participants consistently highlighted that mental wellbeing was often the underlying issue affecting other health behaviours.

Recommendations

The report recommends that future wellbeing services should:

• Develop a single, joined-up wellbeing service that is easy for people to understand and access.
• Place mental wellbeing at the heart of support, recognising its impact on physical health and lifestyle choices.
• Improve awareness of available services through clear, consistent communication and community outreach.
• Make services more accessible by offering flexible appointment times, local venues and different ways to access support.
• Reduce barriers such as transport, cost, waiting times and stigma.
• Work closely with local communities to design services that meet people's needs and encourage long-term engagement.

Key themes:

• Barriers to accessing wellbeing services
• Mental wellbeing as the foundation for healthier lifestyles
• The need for clear, joined-up local services
• Improving access through flexible and timely support
• Public recommendations for future wellbeing services