Child and adolescent mental health
Useful websites for heallth professionals
The Charlie Walker Memorial Trust has a vision is of a world where people understand and talk openly about depression, where young people know how to maintain wellbeing, and where the most appropriate treatment is available to everyone who needs it. The Trust aims to: equip young people to look after their mental well being; help people to recognise the signs of depression in themselves and others so they know when to seek help; and ensure expert and evidence-based help is available when people need it.
One in three GP consultations with teenagers includes a mental health problem. In this 20 minute video, practising psychiatrist and GP trainer, Dr Maryanne Freer, helps GPs:decide, in the first consultation, whether or not a young person has a mental health problem and how they can help. The video is supported by an online toolkit
An Australian initiative that helps professionals connect with better mental health support and approaches for infants, children and families. It includes an online training module for GPs: supporting children’s resilience in general practice provides you with a conversation guide to assist your work with patients as parents, as well as a rationale for why GPs should conduct preventative conversations with parents about their children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
headspace began in 2006 in Australia to address the critical gap that young people face to accessing mental health support, by providing tailored and holistic mental health support to 12 - 25 year olds. With a focus on early intervention, They work with young people to provide support at a crucial time in their lives – to help get them back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future.
This section is for health professionals who work with young people, and anyone else who is looking for details of existing research in youth mental health. It includes clinical tools, free online training for GPs, and free online training for allied health professionals such as psychologists, occupational therapists, alcohol/drugs workers, social workers and mental health nurses.
Mentally Healthy Schools brings together quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing. School nurses have a role to play in a whole-school approach to promoting and supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing through building resilience, supporting emotional wellbeing, keeping children and young people safe and assisting children with ‘risky’ behaviours such as self-harm, challenging behaviours and sexual or criminal exploitation.
Open Talk aims to support collaborative decision-making between children, young people and mental health professionals in inpatient and community mental health services. It is led by Common Room in collaboration with the Evidenced Based Practice Unit (UCL & Anna Freud Centre). Drawing on evidence from a number of innovative practice and research initiatives, including two current PhD projects, they worked in partnership with young people and CAMHs professionals to develop:The Open Talk decision-making model; a one day masterclass with a ½ day follow up session; and a resource hub to collate and share tools and ideas to support decision-making and improve CYP experience.
The RCGP is the professional membership body for GPs in the UK. Its purpose is to encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible standards in general medical practice. They support GPs through all stages of their career, from medical students considering general practice, through to training, qualified years and retirement.
​
On their Youth mental health pages you will find easily accessible resources about adolescent mental health that will enhance the care of young people in General Practice, as well as help you fulfil CPD and revalidation requirements.
We Can Talk is a project using engagement and education to increase the skill and confidence of acute hospital staff in understanding and supporting children and young people’s mental health. It has co-produced (with hospital staff, young people and mental health experts) a one-day training to improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of any member of staff who sees children and young people in their role (clinical and non-clinical).
​
They have worked with young people with experience of presenting to hospital due to their mental health to develop some helpful tips for hospital staff when supporting the emotional and mental health needs of young people aged 25 and under.
Videos
Students of Cape Cornwall School worked on creating a video to help adults approach young people in relation to mental health.
Young people with mental health problems discuss the difficulties of being heard in a world where adults make decisions that will undoubtedly affect their futures without allowing them to be involved.