Background
to the
Research
- Research shows that mental
health problems amongst children and young people has a prevalence
rate of 20%, with 10% having a moderate to severe disabling condition.
In 1999 the NHSSB commissioned a report from Young Minds Consultancy
Service with a view to help the board provide better services for
child and adolescent mental health problems within it's area.
Research
Approach
- The commissioning statement represents
the recommendations from the report endorsed by the Board after a
process of consultation with interested parties.
Main
Findings
- A wide range of services is available in
relation to early intervention by primary care professionals and others
to address mild problems. However, coverage of the population is patchy
and they are not integrated into a coherent network or strategic context.
- Statutory services are often viewed as
inaccessible, stigmatising or unresponsive.
- The funding of the voluntary sector is
seen as vulnerable, and support to and from the statutory sector is
poorly developed.
- Specialist CAMHS have limited input into
addressing mild problems where a range of welfare professionals operate.
The input of specialist CAMHS is equally limited where services are
provided by specialist uni-professional groups such as child psychologists.
- Specialist CAMHS are overwhelmed by demand.
- Within specialist services, key skills
are not available, most notably child psychotherapy.
- The inadequate provision of paediatric
liaison and a specialist out-of-hours service is a cause for concern.
- There is a seriously inadequate level
of provision of specialist in-patient services, with older teenagers
at times being admitted to adult psychiatric wards.
Conclusions
- Commissioning arrangements are to be revised
and improved.
- Additional funding is to be made available
to address mild problems and the early stages of presentation of symptoms.
- The role of Family Centres in supporting
child and adolescent mental health is to be developed further and
the number and location of such centres reviewed.
- Managerial and organisational arrangements,
and the staffing level of the specialist CAMHS service, are to be
enhanced.
- The type and level of specialist provision
needed for children and young people with a mental illness is to be
reviewed.
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