News from our partners: Healthwatch urges sharing of experiences of young people’s mental health crisis services
News from our partners Healthwatch Shropshire, and Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin
Healthwatch Shropshire and Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin have launched a joint campaign to gather information on young people’s experiences of mental health crisis services since 2020.
During the pandemic there has been a nationwide increase in the number of young people accessing mental health services to help deal with a range of conditions such as eating disorders, depression and anxiety.
Young people are currently supported in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin primarily through Bee U, an emotional health and wellbeing service. However, a range of other services are also used such as A&E, The Redwoods Centre, Princess Royal Hospital and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The aim of the project is to gather young people’s experiences and any suggestions they may have on how services could be improved.
Healthwatch are working with the Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Hospital Trust (SaTH) and the Midlands Foundation Trust Partnership (MPFT), which provides specialist mental health services and social care services to contact young people who have used the crisis services system. However, Healthwatch would also like to hear from those who have provided support to those young people, parents, friends, carers and professionals with experience in the sector.
Hayley Flavell, Director of Nursing at SaTH, encouraged those with experiences to take part, stating:-
“Over the last 12 months we have seen an increased number of children and young people presenting to Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Hospital Trust with mental health conditions, and we are working alongside our system colleagues to ensure we are providing the best possible care.
“Your views are integral so that children and young people are at the centre of the future developments and improvement in our services.”
Cathy Riley, Managing Director, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Care Group at MPFT, added:-
“There are times when a child or young person needs help quickly so we recently expanded the crisis and home treatment service so that we can respond within four hours in the community, but we are keen to hear your experiences to help us understand how the service can be further developed.”
For anyone who has experience or would like to share their views, they can either contact Healthwatch Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin depending on where they live or received care, or complete our online survey at:-
Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin contact details
www.healthwatchtelfordandwrekin.co.uk
Email: telford.admin@telfordandwrekin.co.uk
Phone number: 01952 739540
Free Post Address: Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin, RTET-4BYS-TH6U
Online survey: https://www.healthwatchtelfordandwrekin.co.uk/mental-health-crisis-services-children-and-young-people
Healthwatch Shropshire contact details
www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk
Email: enquiries@healthwatchshropshire.co.uk
Phone number: 01743 237884
Free Post Address: FREEPOST HEALTHWATCH SHROPSHIRE
Online survey: https://www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk/mental-health-crisis-services-children-and-young-people
