PROJECTS supporting young people with mental health issues were under the spotlight during a community event at Wallasey town hall.
Hosted by local mental health providers Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, its aim was to help teachers, healthcare professionals and voluntary workers understand the work of Wirral Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The day intended to create a shared understanding of the government's recent 'Future in Mind' initiative throughout the local community, which aims to transform the way child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are delivered across the country.
Local projects under the spotlight at the event included the work of CWP’s Wirral Primary Mental Health Service to support Wirral schools and communities and the launch of the Trust's Next Step Cards: a unique card-based resource designed to support the communication of vulnerable young people.
delegates at CWP's young people’s mental health event at Wallasey Town Hall
Sallie Taylor, clinical services manager for CWP Wirral CAMHS, said: "Our event was a fantastic opportunity for people involved in supporting the wellbeing of young people in Wirral to discover what is going on locally and share best practice ideas.
"As the providers of young people’s mental health services in Wirral, we are committed to creating a system that brings together the potential of the NHS, schools, social care, parents and carers, the voluntary sector and, of course, children and young people.
"This is our challenge with Future in Mind.”
Emma Pennington, learning mentor at New Brighton Primary School, said: "It was an interesting and informative afternoon which has opened channels for our school to enhance the wellbeing of our pupils.
"I have made lots of links with other professionals and this would not have been possible without this service."
Nationally, one in 10 young people require direct support or treatment for mental health conditions, with 75 per cent of adults with mental health conditions experiencing symptoms before the age of 18.
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