The Isle of Wight NHS Trust is highlighting the service it provides to give dedicated support for children and young people who attend the Emergency Department (A&E) with mental health concerns, including those in crisis.
NHS Digital has reported that 1 in 6 children aged 5 to 16 are likely to have a mental health condition and that 39% of 6 to 16-year-olds have experienced deterioration in mental health since 2017.
With this in mind, since June 2021 a pilot service has been underway at St Mary’s Hospital with a team of 3 Mental Health Assistant Practitioners.
The Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Liaison team are responsive and ensure that young people’s immediate mental health care needs are met and that they feel at ease during their mental health assessment. As well as working within A&E, they also work to support children and young people admitted to the paediatric ward for their safety, for observation or treatment.
Staff provide a consistent point of contact for young people and families, helping to connect them to other services and mental health providers, including Barnardo’s, the Isle of Wight Youth Trust and No Limits.
Chris Ainsworth, Clinical Director of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities said:
“Children and young people’s mental health couldn’t be more important, particularly at this time with many returning to normal school routines after two years of upheaval. The impact of the constant disruptions over this period has been particularly tough on young people and in some cases, it has impacted negatively on their emotional growth and mental wellbeing.
“This team provides compassionate care at a time when many of these young patients are experiencing mental health distress, enabling them to talk freely about their emotional difficulties within a supportive environment.”
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Ella Fincham, Children and Young People’s Assistant Practitioner said:
“We spend time with the child or young person in the emergency department, ensuring they are comfortable and that they feel at ease when being assessed for further treatment. We do this by providing therapeutic resources or games or simply by having a conversation with a cup of tea and a biscuit. This helps to build a rapport with the individual and helps to ease any anxieties they might have during this process.
“We also work with children and young people who are admitted to the children’s ward to ensure their safety, for observation or treatment. We provide tailored resources and activities including colouring, books, mindfulness techniques or depending on age, toys to ensure that the environment is stress free.”
