Joined-up thinking on mental health
Anne Longfield
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The physical support needs of teenagers give only half of the picture relating to health and wellbeing needs. The teenage years are a notoriously difficult period, with many people feeling alone and unable to rely on their friends or parents for support. Often, teenagers feel self-doubt as they grow up through this experimental period, throughout which they are in search of identity and independence. But concerns about the emotional wellbeing should not just be limited to teenagers.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics released in 1998 indicated that about one in 10 children aged five to 15 have a mental disorder of sufficient severity to either cause distress or have a considerable effect on the way they live.
Tackling this issue effectively is not just a job for specialist agencies. This was brought out in recent research from Scotland, which emphasised the need to address the whole continuum of mental health, from mental health promotion and prevention through to dealing with more complex and severe cases of mental ill health. It also suggested that mental health promotion should underpin all work with children and young people.
The Cornwall Youth Emotional Support Service provides support to young people. The services offered are geared towards helping teenagers develop into responsible and mature adults and include information and advice, mentoring, and a general wellbeing programme that focuses on all aspects of the "whole" young person.
Young people can also access a "Share Shop" at the Cornwall Youth Service. Staff are available to help young people find information through personal advice about a wide range of topics including jobs, drugs or housing. A designated mentoring scheme provides young people with an adult volunteer for up to 12 months who will be in place to provide personal support, training on personal and social skills, and general encouragement and "cheerleading".
On a more strategic level, Young Scotland in Mind is a network of voluntary sector organisations that aims to foster a culture of working and learning together in order to promote the mental health and wellbeing of all children and young people in Scotland.
The forum recognises the unique contribution of the voluntary sector and brings groups together to share good practice and influence the development of policy and practice. Led by Barnardo's and funded by HeadsUpScotland, Young Scotland in Mind has representatives from more than 70 organisations across Scotland, and continues to grow.
- Anne Longfield is chief executive of 4Children.Email anne.longfield@haymarket.com.
