Improving children and young people's mental health

In recent years there has been a marked reduction in funding for children and young people’s (CYP) mental health services (CQC, 2018) with a recognition that the majority of children now referred by GPs for mental health treatment receive no support (Wray, 2018, Price, 2016). Recent work from the New Economics Foundation and NESTA (Arnold et al, 2018) has argued the case for a ‘health as social movement’ approach. They point to the effectiveness of social movements for health that are part of a long history of community development, citizen participation and person-centred health and care.

Partners

Lead community partner - Gráinne Saunders and Lucie Dumbleton, West Sussex Parent Carer Forum

Plus Adur and Worthing Community Works

Researchers - Dr Carl Walker, Dr Matthew Adams, Dr Rebecca Grist, University of Brighton

A presenter talking to a crowd

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Background

The partnership between the University of Brighton and the West Sussex Parent Carers Forum used the  ‘health as social movement’ concept to achieve a co–produced, sustainable, community-based approach to supporting young people’s mental and emotional wellbeing in Worthing. The Worthing Ignite! project held two events to explore the mental health of children and young people, in a town with high levels of teenage self-harm. The events have generated interest and support from professionals including GPs, headteachers, councillors and NHS commissioners, alongside parents and carers. Additionally, the team has set up a professional stakeholders group to take up these issues, as well as a community of practice to explore different solutions for supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Already the team has received interest from others keen to find out more about the holistic approach they have adopted.

The resources and knowledge developed are applicable to other areas of West Sussex and the intention is that this community approach is a transferable model that others can learn from and build on.

Key activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts

  • Carried out a literature review on children’s emotional wellbeing including local data that will inform an academic paper based on the work of the partnership.
  • Showcased great things already happening in the community across a broad range of places – GP Surgery, Community Housing Project, Town Council, Wellbeing Therapists, Mental Health Provider.
  • Held two town-wide multi-stakeholder events, including parents, carers, teachers, GPs, commissioners, service managers, district councillors, therapists and town dignitaries who have identified a need to take action to support children’s emotional wellbeing for Worthing.
  • Started a multi-stakeholder mental health prevention group that will sustain the work of the project and is focused on a whole community approach to tackling the drivers of poor mental health in children and young people.
  • Led the development of a community of practice made up of people who want to share knowledge around these issues and take action together to support children’s emotional wellbeing.
  • Created impact by developing new relationships with strategic health commissioners, town council and other community partners.
  • Developing a pocketbook guide for local parents and carers on how to support children’s emotional wellbeing, plus a list of local resources.
  • Presented partnership project at various events including a GP-School meeting.
  • Presented findings at a community psychology conference.