Posted on: 12 July 2019
Three areas in West Yorkshire heard today (Friday 12 July) that children and young people will receive support from specially trained mental health teams in school and colleges to help with their emotional wellbeing.
Children and young people in Leeds, Bradford and North Kirklees will benefit. They are three of 48 new so called ‘Trailblazer’ areas identified by the NHS, with support being given to young people with mild to moderate mental health needs through a total of six mental health support teams.
This national mental health programme aims to bridge the gap between schools and colleges and NHS services.
Around one in 10 children are believed to have a diagnosable mental health disorder, with half of all mental health conditions beginning before the age of 14, making it vital that children with early symptoms receive the support they need
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) will be introduced across these West Yorkshire trailblazer sites over the next few months. Each will support several schools and colleges, covering a population of around 8,000 children and young people. Their new workforce of Education Mental Health Practitioners will work with education settings to provide early intervention on mild to moderate mental health issues and provide help to staff in schools and colleges.
A programme jointly delivered with the Department of Education, teams will also act as a link with local children and young people’s mental health services and be supervised by NHS staff.
Cllr Tim Swift, Leader of Calderdale Council and Chair of West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Board (WY&H HCP) said: ‘It’s great news that additional much needed support is going to be provided in schools and colleges to help children and young people’s emotional well-being. Working together in partnership is the only way we can achieve better health and wellbeing for them all. We want to learn from these pilots and share good practice across West Yorkshire and Harrogate so that all young people, no matter where they live, have the best start in life. This is a priority to us all’.
Rob Webster, CEO for South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate said: ‘All young people deserve the best start in life. All too often, young people with a mental health problem are not able to fulfil their potential. Bringing mental health and education professionals together is a positive step forward and this much needed support is going into three areas of our Partnership. We can then share learning and spread good practice everywhere – which is one of the very reasons why our Partnership exists’.
Thea Stein, CEO for Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, and CEO Lead for WY&H HCP Child Adolescent Mental Health Services said: ‘We’re delighted to be given the opportunity to launch mental health support teams in West Yorkshire. We know that if we are to have an impact on adult mental health we have to start early and support children and young people and give them the skills to ensure they have the best chance in life – they deserve nothing less’.
Dr Sara Munro, CEO Lead for Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and CEO Lead for WY&H HCP Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Collaborative said: ‘This is great news not only for the three areas chosen but the wider Partnership. It comes at a time when mental health support to children and young people has never been more important. The programme will empower staff by brokering contact, sharing expertise and developing a joint vision for children and young people’s mental health and well-being in each locality. This way we can identify their needs early and sign post them to the best support possible’.
WY&H HCP hopes that this will mean more young people will get fast and appropriate support for emerging mental health problems, and that all children will receive the highest quality pastoral care through their adolescence.
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
Trailblazer is the term used to describe the first areas chosen during 18/19 to roll out Mental Health Support Teams. 12 of these 18/19 sites are also testing a four-week waiting time for access to specialist NHS children and young people’s mental health care.
Mental Health Support Teams are a new workforce. They are additional to the existing support being offered by schools and colleges and through NHS children and young people’s mental health services and will be expected to work with them in an integrated way.