For the continuum of mental health we need a whole system, holistic 'healthspan'

If we don’t address the mental health of young people, that mental health challenge will advance into the adult population of tomorrow. What can be done to address the issue, though?

At Anthropy 2025: Rebooting Britain, web editor Nicole Raleigh sat down with Dr Sebastian Vaughn, CEO of Phytome Life Sciences, for an en plein air and explorative conversation around the topic, live onsite at The Eden Project in Cornwall, following the Adelphi sponsored panel, ‘Revolutionary Thinking for Mental Health’, also with: Charlotte Baldwin, Mental Health UK; Dr Lauren Waterman, NHS; Sarah Hughes, MIND; and Dr Sri Kalidindi CBE, klip Global Ltd; and Lloyd Morgan, Adelphi Group, as moderator.

Action in the real world resultant from discussions like those held at Anthropy is what is, of course, critical. We are all agents of change. Mental health is not a binary issue, says Vaughn, but rather a continuum of a life-long management process. However, the healthcare system alone is not the only point of delivery, and community-based solutions need to be put in place, too.

Indeed, it is this system shift to collaborative efforts that will be key in changing the recent high tide of mental health diagnoses, including training teachers and even parents in the skills necessary to provide support for young people with mental health issues. Also exploring the increase in diagnosis, the lessening of stigma attached to mental health, and potential reasons there – Vaughn posits that ‘healthspan’, as opposed to ‘healthcare’, should be considered.

Arguing against associating addressing mental health with putting people back to work and mere consideration of productivity amelioration, instead we should be asking what helps us thrive as human beings, says Vaughn. We need, simply, to live better, and live well – such strategies currently being implemented in communities such as those in Manchester.

But, of course, young people themselves need to be offered a place at the table to make the changes they need for their own mental health; systemic change of the culture around mental health. And novel, holistic approaches that can be scaled – such as those being explored at Phytome – could be part of the necessary shift.

You can listen to episode 170a of the pharmaphorum podcast in the player below, download the episode to your computer, or find it - and subscribe to the rest of the series - in iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Podbean, and pretty much wherever you get your other podcasts!