Mental and Emotional Health

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This section explains how we are improving mental and emotional health for children and young people.


Mental Health and Emotional Well-being 

Mental health and emotional well-being issues remain significant to many children and young people in Newcastle with consistent referrals into Children and Adult Mental Health Service. Social workers, working with clinical colleagues, are achieving a response to all referred service users within the 13 week required timescale.


The following groups of children and young people are identified as being at high risk of developing mental health problems.  Those who are:

  • Living in poverty
  • Exhibiting behavioural difficulties
  • Experiencing parental separation and divorce
  • Within families experiencing bereavement

The recent assessment of need carried out by Newcastle Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) partnership estimates that 6,070 children and young people aged 0-18 are expected to have mental health disorders. However, this is based on the prevalence mental ill health identified nationally extrapolated to the local population and it is suggested that this is likely to be an underestimate of true needs given the high prevalence of risk factors for mental ill health in Newcastle.


What have we done to improve mental and emotional well-being?

A new CAMHS strategy is being implemented, which includes:

  • Services for children with ADHD as the top priority, followed by services to support young people into independence. Children and young people were actively involved in Programme Budget Marginal Analysis (PBMA) exercise that established these priorities
  • CAMHS engagement in the Aspire Service to more effectively meet the needs of looked after children, and the appointment of a social work team leader for CAMHS to refocus the Social Care Service.
  • An action Plan agreed to prevent inappropriate admissions to adult wards for young people with mental health issues.
  • A 2nd draft of the Assessment of the Needs of Children and Adolescents in Newcastle for Mental Health Services

 


What is planned for 2008 - 2009?

The CAMHS will move towards early intervention and prevention where we will redesign services to improve access within the community using specialist services as a last resort. Specific actions include:

  • ADHD CAMHS pathway
  • Banardos project will reshape the support to young people with mental health issues living independently.


Other information you may be interested in:

Lead Contact

 

 

Andy Roberts
Childrens Trust Manager 
Email: andy.roberts@newcastle.gov.uk
Phone: 0191 277 7480
 

Family Services Directory
For further information about services for mental and emotional health, visit the Family Services Directory (external link)