Experiencing mental health services in 2017 and beyond

Amanda Tuffrey

6th July 2017

Writing articles for the MyAPT website

“Ask Young People” section on MyAPTwebsite

Being a part of the organising process. Working with adults to create young person led opportunities

Attending National board meetings, Board co-chair, Young people’s section of meetings

Leading workshops at national events

Meeting the Health Select Committee, advising MPs, giving our opinions &answering their questions to young people

Meeting with commissioners

Linking with collaborativesand local participation groups

Advising on National Service Specifications, and Integrated Services

Some general impressions

Services are changing but it’s often unclear what their mission is and the focus of their work

Many CAMHS have lots of staff vacancies or to have reduced in size; many now staffed with more junior practitioners who are inexperienced

The thresholds to be accepted by CAMHS are getting higher and it’s very difficult to meet them

It’s not clear how any new transformation money in CAMHS has made a difference

Little knowledge about what CAMHs/support is available at a local level

Priorities for improving CAMHS?

Waiting times are too long

Huge variations around the country – it’s still a postcode lottery

Thresholds – services are over-stretched; young people are being told they are not ill enough

Poor join up between services = feeling of being passed around

Cutbacks to council budgets – community services for young people (counselling etc) are closing down or restricting their opening hours

The only service that seems to be on offer is crisis care… prevention is just not happening

SchoolsLiaison workers between CAMHS and Schools

Drop in counselling/mental health champion

Keeping your mind healthy workshops

Stigma/mental health education

Mental Health first aid

Parent/carer workshops

Staffing

In many services it feels like only a few key people are keeping things going – what will happen when they leave?

It’s obvious to young people that morale is poor, that people are doing their best but are doing too much/are burnt out and don’t always have the right skills

Problems with recruitment – experience of people not turning up for interviews in CAMHS when I’ve been on the panel

More Nurse associate type of training/progression schemes as little/no incentive to be a part of the MH workforce.

“The number of nurses working in mental health in England had fallen from 45,384 in 2010 to 38,774 in July 2016 - a fall of 6,610”. Health Minister Philip Dunne

Emerging concerns that need to be

addressedNew technology - e.g. bullying on social media, online sexual

exploitation:

Staff in CAMHS don’t routinely ask about this/offer support/understand or have appropriate training

Social media is huge in how young people communicate.

It’s often leading to really risky behaviour or young people getting in trouble with the police – this is an issue CAMHS and social care/local councils really need to take up

Gender Identity

YP presenting with gender identity issues-not enough current info. or how best to support YP

Provision for 16+s

Despite moves for CAMHS to increase its age range (e.g. up to 25 years) services for older young people are still poor and inconsistent

Transition to adult services is still a barrier… many young people never get to AMHS and are left having to find support on their own

Integration isn’t a reality – lots of service may be involved but don’t work efficiently together and don’t recognise the same needs

Pivital moments in YP life are they supported in other challenges they face?

Links with college or university-out of area communication is usually poor

Co-production!

Engagement and involvement

Empowerment

Giving service users a voice now and for the future generation

Giving people work experience in social care professions

Integrity in key decision making about young people for young people

What would make a difference? Multi-agency training – CAMHS and LA social care services

LA/council commitment to contribute to pooled budgets for services with CCGs to support CYP mental health and wellbeing

Council services to provide mental health support to: e.g. children looked after or leaving care; homeless young people; those in temporary accommodation; young refugees/asylum seekers (so social work and other staff need MH training)

Council services for CYP with special education needs and disabilities – build or improve links with CAMHS

Provide local youth hubs/safe places where young people can drop in for advice and immediate help (to try and reduce numbers ending up going to A&E or being picked up by the police in crisis)

Council/social care staff

Offer training and publicity campaigns about digital safety

Need to understand the many different needs and how to work with young people in transition, those who’ve experienced trauma (e.g. young refugees or victims of domestic abuse)

Extend mental health work and sources of support and information in schools and colleges

Have workshops in local area specific problems- e.g truancy/gender issues

Thank you!

For more information about the work of GIFT and to download our free information resources,

please go to:

www.myapt.org.uk