Mental Health
The 'Bright Futures' inquiry identified an estimated 20% of children and adolescents are experiencing psychological problems at any one time.
Historically the provision of services for children and adolescents with mental health problems has not been as comprehensive as the equivalent services for adults.
Yet successful support can significantly reduce the numbers of sufferers who continue to have this type of illness into adulthood.
The 'New Beginning' project, based in the adolescent psychiatric unit at Edgware Community Hospital, piloted a new way of working with young people under in-patient psychiatric care. They were matched with life coaches who initially supported them in engaging with the provision available to them on the unit to achieve the 'minimum change' set for their discharge and thereafter, once back in their community, in making full use of the CAMHS services available to them.
Sadly, due to the NHS's inability to mainstream this project due to lack of funds, it has presently been suspended.
