Stroud District Council has agreed to appoint two champions for positive mental health.
The decision follows a motion proposed by Conservative councillor Tom Skinner at the April 26 full council meeting.
Cllr Skinner made the case to colleagues by pointing out that local health services were under pressure due to untreated mental ill health which, he argued, adds £10bn to the cost of physical health care for people with long-term conditions.
He also cited that one in four people will experience a mental health problem in a given year.
The council will select its mental health champions in May.
The initiative is part of a wider push by seven mental health charities to encourage councils to have dedicated watchdogs for their communities.
The Local Authority Mental Health Challenge promises to provide support and resources to champions to deal with the problems they identify.
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