A reflection of children and young people’s understanding of
emotional health and well-being within Bridgend County Borough
March 2005
Angela Davies, Children’s Services Planning Manager,
Bridgend Local Health Board
Acknowledgments
Special thanks go to all the children and young people who have participated in this
consultation providing a true reflection of their feelings.
Thanks also to all the organisations mentioned within this document, which have supported
this consultation enabling meetings with children and young people to take place.
2
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONSULTATION ON EMOTIONAL
HEALTH & WELL BEING
Summary
The Bridgend Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Joint Strategic Planning
Group oversee the delivery and development of CAMHS within Bridgend County Borough
(BCB). The group is multi-agency, linking with Pontypridd & Rhondda NHS Trust who currently
provides the Specialist CAMHS in BCB via the Child & Family Clinic satellite base at Princess
of Wales hospital. The planning group also links to the Bridgend Children and Young People’s
Framework Partnership, which provides the focus for planning all services for children and
young people.
Members of the group identified the need to involve children and young people in the planning
process to provide child-centered services as required by the National CAMHS Strategy 2001
‘Everybody’s Business’:
‘Everybody’s Business’ - Child centered services:
‘child centeredness means that services must be holistic, flexible and centered on the needs,
opinions, cultures and lifestyles of children and adolescents.
Professional practice should therefore include a focus on prevention and health promotion and
develop relationships that aid young people in tackling their problems.’
In order to provide child centered services we need to have an insight into children and young
people’s understanding of emotional and mental health.
This consultation examines what children and young people in BCB understand by the terms
‘Emotional Health and ‘Mental Health’ and asks them to identify current services which could
support young people when they are experiencing difficulties within this dimension of health.
Over 200 children and young people between the ages of 9years and 20years participated
within group meetings and there is overwhelming evidence that young people do not have a
basic understanding of what is meant by ’Emotional Health’. The term ‘Mental Health’ prompts
images from the media and film industry such as ‘Psycho’s, Nutters and Mad People.’
This demonstrates the need to focus on mental health promotion within the education system
and/or youth service to encourage children and young people to openly discuss their
emotions/feelings within a safe, supportive environment. The Royal College of Psychiatrists
2004 states ’People are more at risk of becoming depressed if they are under a lot of stress,
have no one to share their worries with and lack practical support’.
The consultation also identifies the need for a specialist project or co-ordinator based in the
community to offer support and deliver lessons/discussions regarding emotional or mental
health so it will not be seen as just another lesson but promotes an understanding of a subject
which affects so many people’s lives within the community and aids the on-going campaigns to
de-stigmatize mental health.
3
Background
In 2001 the Welsh Assembly Government launched a national strategy for
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) –‘Everybody’s Business.’ The
Bridgend CAMHS Joint Strategy Planning Group works within the ethos of this Strategy and in
line with the Four Tiered Approach to provide a comprehensive CAMHS model.
Partner agencies within Bridgend County Borough aim to provide high quality accessible
services for all children and young people in need of emotional support and guidance, as well
as those in need of specialist services.
The National Strategy states: ‘The views of children and young people who use the services
should be actively sought by planners, commissioners and practitioners and incorporated
wherever possible into plans and service delivery.’
The Bridgend CAMHS Joint Strategy Planning Group addresses this by commissioning a
consultation with Children and Young People of Bridgend County Borough.
The Welsh Assembly Government Document- Extending Entitlement: supporting young
people in Wales (2000) also focuses on Engaging with Young People.
3.1 The right to be consulted is one of the three main strands of the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child. It is a very high priority for young people in Wales. ‘Wanting to be asked’
was the top of the list of priorities produced by the support for young people workshop during
the Young Voice Conference at the National Assembly July 2000.
3.8 the benefits of engaging with young people include:
• Improving the quality and relevance of service delivery eg. Young people have strong
views on the way in which advice is offered to them on work, careers, health,
relationships, sex, drugs and alcohol – which should inform the design of more effective
strategies at local level.
4
Children & Young People within Bridgend County Borough
According to 2003 activity data there are 40106 children and young people between the
ages of under 1 to 25 years residing in Bridgend County Borough. This can be divided into
the age groups according to the Children’s Partnership 0-10years 17476 and the Young
People’s Partnership 11-25years 22630.
Bridgend County Borough consists of 39 community wards; there is a vast variance in the
population of children and young people between some of the wards.
The wards with the highest population of children and young people are:
2001 Census
Total Population (TP)
Brackla
Caerau
Pyle
Cornelly
Maesteg West
10,113
7,026
7,205
5,982
5,846
All children (%of TP) 0-10yr %of TP
3916 (38.7)
2412 (34.3)
2374 (32.9)
1971 (32.9)
1815 (31.0)
18.2
15.0
14.1
14.3
13.0
11-25yrs % of TP
20.5
19.3
18.8
18.6
18.0
The wards with the lowest population of children and young people are:
2001 Census
Total Population (TP)
Coychurch Lower
Llangeinor
Bryncethin
Coity
Cefn Cribwr
Cefn Glas
1,206
1,161
1,305
1,394
1,546
1,742
All children (%of TP)
253 (20.9)
352 (30.3)
427 (32.7)
470 (33.7)
487 (31.5)
522 (29.9)
0-10yrs %of TP 11-25yrs % of TP
9.1
13.8
16.4
9.6
13.4
13.9
11.8
16.5
16.3
24.1
18.1
16.0
NB. All figures taken from the 2003 activity data & 2001 Census
247 respondents equates to just over 1% of the total population of young
people aged 11-25years
5
CHILD & ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (CAMHS) IN
BRIDGEND COUNTY BOROUGH
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within Bridgend County Borough are currently
administered centrally at the Tonteg Child and Family Clinic, Pontypridd. A core outpatient
team of psychiatrists, social workers and therapists work exclusively in the Bridgend area
with the addition of Adolescent Substance Misuse nurses and input from the Community
Intensive Therapy Team.
Table 1:Estimated prevalence of specific mental health problems within the Bridgend
area 2001
Disorder
Conduct disorders
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Attempted suicide
Suicide
Mental Disorder
5-15 year olds
Prevalence
estimates Estimated number of
from literature
children in Bridgend
area.
6.2-10.8% among 10 109-189.
year olds
0.5-1% of 12-19year 62-124
olds
1% of adolescent girls
54
(12-18 years)
2-4%of adolescents
170-334
7.6 per 100,000 15-19 0.57
year olds
11% boys
8% girls
M=1058
F=750
5-10 year olds
10% boys
6% girls
M=541
F=317
11-15 year olds
13% boys
10% girls
M=547
F=409
Source: CAMHS- A Health Needs Assessment for Iechyd Morgannwg Health, 2001.
Table 2: Estimated Prevalence of Specific Child and Adolescent Mental Health Disorders in
Bridgend LHB area.
Disorder
Prevalence estimates
from literature
Estimated Number of Children/Adolescents
Bridgend
Emotional disorders
with onset in
childhood
Major depression
4.5-9.9% of 10 year olds
0.5-2.5% among children
(0-11 years)
2-8% among adolescents
(12-16 years)
79-174
103-414
167-668
6
Conduct disorders
Tic disorders
6.2-10.8% among 10 year
olds
1-13% of boys (0-18 years)
1-11% of girls (0-18 years)
109-189
163-2144
155-1709
Obsessive
compulsive
disorders
1.9% of adolescents (1216 years)
Hyperkinetic
disorders - ADHD
1.7% of primary school
boys (7-11 years)
1 in 200 of whole
population (0-18 years)
159
152
159
Encopresis
2.3% of boys and 0.7% of
girls aged 7-8 years
1.3% of boys and 0.3% of
girls aged 11-12 years
Anorexia
nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Attempted suicide
0.5-1% of 12-19 year olds
(M:1 ~10:1)
1% of adolescent girls (1218 years)
2-4% of adolescents
M=43
F=13
M=23
F=5
62-124
54
170-334
Suicide
Nocturnal enuresis
7.6 per
100 000 15-19 year olds
8% of 7 year old children
1% of 14 year old children
0.57
147
16
Sleep difficulties
13% of London 3 year olds
have difficulty in settling
14% of 3 year olds wake
up persistently during the
night
214
231
Feeding difficulties
Abdominal pain with
no organic cause
Severe tantrums
12-14% among preschool
children
(0-4 years)
10% in 5-10 year olds
990-1155
1070
5% of 3 year olds in an
urban community
82
Simple phobias
2.3-9.2% of children
(2-10 years)
363-1452
Prevalence estimates from literature taken from, A Handbook of Child and Adolescent Mental
Health. The Health of the Nation 1995 and summarised in Wallace et al 1997. Population figures
from ONS population estimates for 1996 based on 1991 census. Source: CAMHS Costed plan 2004
7
Table 3:
Prevalence of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Disorders
Disorder
Mental Disorder
(5-15 years)
Prevalence estimates from
literature
11% boys
Estimated Number of Children/Adolescents
Bridgend
M=1058
8% girls
F=750
10% boys
M=541
6% girls
F=317
13% boys
M=547
10 % girls
F=409
4%
(0-15 years)
760
5%
(B:G =2:1)
950
2% boys
0.5% girls
M=192
F=47
0.5% of 5-15 year olds
95
5-10 year olds
11-15 year olds
Emotional disorders
with onset in
childhood
Clinically Significant
Conduct disorders
Hyperkinetic
disorders
Autistic disorders,
tics, eating disorders
From: ONS (2000) Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in Great Britain. Office for National
Statistics. Population figures from ONS population estimates for 1996 based on 1991 census
Source:CAMHS Costed plan 2004
‘Commonly used data representing prevalence rates of specific child and adolescent
mental health disorders are shown in Tables 2 and 3. Although the figures may seem high,
only 10% of children in the community with a psychiatric disorder were found by Rutter
(1970) to be in contact with specialist services at any one time and the service that is
treating the child with the mental health problem could be one of a range including
education, social services, hospital or community paediatric as well as the specialist
CAMHS (ONS, 2000). These 10% tend to be the children with the most severe problems.
Maughan (1995) when summarising the official statistics collected on child health problems
commented that data on the use of psychiatric services are unhelpful as indicators of
prevalence rates of mental health problems among young people because the majority of
psychiatric problems go untreated.
The aim should be to provide high quality accessible and appropriate services.’
(CAMHS Costed Plan 2004)
8
‘Looked after children’
In 2003 the Office of National Statistics looked at the mental health of young people aged
5-17yrs looked after in Wales. 49% were assessed as having a mental disorder.
42% had clinically significant conduct disorders. 10% were assessed as having emotional
disorders- anxiety and depression- and 12% were rated as hyperactive. Some children had
more than one disorder. The WAG consultation document of the National Service
Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services in Wales 2004 states’ There
is overwhelming evidence that Looked After Children have greater mental health needs
than the general population of children’.
There are currently 236 looked after children within Bridgend County Borough.
Primary Mental Health Workers
Primary Mental Health Workers is a national initiative supported by the Welsh Assembly
Government to strengthen the four tier strategic concept for the delivery of Child and
Adolescent Mental Health Services.
The prime task of a Primary Mental Health Worker is to develop the capacity and capability
of Tier 1 staff i.e. those people who have direct contact with children/young people -GP’s
Health Visitors, teaching staff, social workers, school nurses, voluntary sector workers etc.
Other tasks include training, consultation and some brief intervention work.
Two Primary Mental Health Workers will be working within Bridgend County Borough from
April 2005 via the Tonteg Child and Family Clinic, Pontypridd.
CAMHS Costed Plan 2004
In response to the Welsh Assembly Government Cicular WHC(2003)127, SaFF Target 2.9
for 2004/05, a specialist CAMHS costed plan was submitted to the Welsh Assembly
Government in October 2004 outlining the current service provision and a proposed new
model of service. The costed plan was developed through a partnership approach between
the S.Wales Clinical Managed Network and Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr, Pontypridd &
Rhondda, Merthyr Tydfil and the Vale of Glamorgan Local Health Boards.
The costed plan states ‘We can not underestimate the impact of other Primary and
Community services on the referral rates within each area. This is diversely different across
the five LHB’s as these services are at different developmental stages. Given national
epidemiological data, referral rates are expected to increase in all areas for Tiers 2 / 3
(services provided by specialist CAMHS Professionals) even with appropriate
development for urgent work and Primary Mental Health.’
Referrals to Specialist CAMHS:
Total
Referrals for Bridgend
(Figures from 1 April 2003 to 31 March
2004)
616
9
A Sample of Children and Young People (11-25yrs) currently accessing/referred to
mental health/emotional support services within Bridgend County Borough
Service
Children’s
service
(C)/Adult
service(A)
A. Child & Family
C
B. CITT
C
C. Youth
C
Counselling
D. Educational
C
Psychology
E. Gofal
A
F. CISS
A
G. CMHTs
A
H. Hafal
I. Ty’r Ardd
J. Coity Clinic 1.
A
A
A
Coity Clinic 2.
A
Coity Clinic 3.
K. M.H. Liaison
Assess. Team
L. YOT Heath
Specialist
M. WGCADA
Totals
A
A
Dec 04- Feb Under
05 Total
16yrs
16yrs-18yrs
19yrs-25yrs
274
5 (referrals)
67
(Dec/Jan)
96
132
3
65
142
2
2
-
95
1
-
10
4
13(OG&G )
9 (B’gend)
14 (Porth’l)
Referrals
11
1
110
-
0
1
11
10(7m, 3F)
4(1F, 3M)
13
8
3
-
1
-
10
1
96
52
(referrals)
12
-
9 (4M, 5F)
43 (15M, 28F)
-
3 (1M, 2F)
9 (8M, 1F)
3
12
10
-
14 (18yrs &
under)
C
C
13
21
9
21
733
304
15 (13m,2f)
216
6 (3m,3f)
213
Key to services:
A. Child and Family – Pontypridd & Rhondda NHS Trust
B.Community Intensive Therapy Team – Pontypridd & Rhondda NHS Trust
C. Youth Counselling – (BCBC Youth Focus/school based)
D. Educational Psychology (BCBC Education, Leisure & Community)
E..Gofal – Out of Hours Social and Emotional Support Service (Vol. sector)
F.Community Intensive Support Service (Ogmore & Garw-Multi-agency)
G. Community Mental Health Teams (Multi- agency)
H. Hafal – Employment project (vol. sector)
I. Ty’r Ardd Day Centre (BCBC Personal Services)
J. Coity Clinic: 1.Outpatients (Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust)
2. Day Hospital
3. Ward 14/15/PICU
K. M.H. Liaison Assessmnet Team Princess Of Wales Hospital
L. Bridgend Youth Offending Team – CAMHS Nurse
M. WGCADA Bridgend – young person’s substance misuse project
10
Methodology
The consultation took the form of a semi-structured interview and questionnaire to
encourage open discussions around any issues that children and young people wish to
raise whilst focusing on Emotional Health. Young people were consulted face to face in
groups as much as possible but a postal questionnaire was offered to some groups of
children and young people.
In order to consult a wide range of children and young people organisations were contacted
to plan meetings with small groups or respond via the postal questionnaire. A key element
of the consultation is to engage marganilised groups of children and young people e.g.
looked after children, young offenders and young people often described as ‘disengaged’
or ‘out of the loop’.
To provide consistency in the manner of all group discussions the Children’s Services
Planning Manager, Bridgend Local Health Board, facilitates all the consultations.
Children and young people participated freely without any educational or social boundaries
regarding the terminology used.
The identity of children and young people involved in the consultation will remain
anonymous.
The target age group of children and young people is on average 11years-18years
although the study involves some children and young people either side of this age group.
To engage children and young people from each area of Bridgend County Borough the
nine geographical forum areas used by Bridgend County Borough Council and adopted by
other partner agencies are utilized.
The nine Forum areas of Bridgend County Borough
are:
•
• Bridgend East
• Cynffig
•
• Ogmore Valley
•
• Porthcawl
•
• Garw Valley
Valleys Gateway
Pencoed
Bridgend West
Upper Llynfi
11
RESPONSES
Bridgend Children and Young People’s Emotional
Support/Mental Health Consultation 2005
Group Title: Children and Young People in Bridgend County
Borough
Respondents
GROUPS (number of CH/YP in group)
a. Aberkenfig Boys & Girls Club (20)
b. Brackla Youth Club & Skate Park (11)
c. Bridgend Young Carers (8)
d. Bridgend Recreation Centre –BMX group (9)
e. Bryncethin Youth Club (12)
f. Blaengarw Youth Club - Creation (13)
g. Cynffig Comprehensive School Yr 11 (17)
h. Heronsbridge School Yr 11 (7)
i. HMP Parc- Juveniles (11)
j. KPC Youth (8)
k. Llwynderw Youth Centre (9)
l. Noddfa Chapel (16)
m. Ogmore Comprehensive School Council (12)
n. Porthcawl Comprehensive School Council (18)
o. Pencoed Comprehensive School Yr 9 (26)
p. Sarn Life Centre Youth Drop-in (17)
q. The Way Forward Project (8)
r. Wildmill youthworks (14)
s. Ysgol Bryn Castell leavers Class (11)
19 groups (247)
Age Range: 9-20 years
Number in group M/F : 116 / 131
No postal questionnaires were returned
NB * denotes high response rate (over 50% of groups)
** over 60% of groups
12
Question 1. What do you understand by the terms:
emotional health ?
• Don’t understand* (some introductory work was carried out to
promote further discussion eg what feelings/emotions do we have?)
• Bullying **
• Feelings/emotions*
• Sad/happy *
• Feelings affecting your health
• Keeping safe
• Divorce
• Crying
• Relationships
• Laughing
• Bereavement
• Sport helps
• Exam pressure
• Depression
• Problems at home
• Confidence
• Sexual
• Family problems
• Pressure-(UCAS forms)
• Scared
• When your Mum beats you up
• Worried
(abuse)
• Racism/abuse
• Stress
• Drugs/alcohol
• Mental strength
• Being in love
• Psychological
• Hormones
• Body image (too fat/skinny)
• Surprised
• Angry/ Anger/ Arguments*
• Counselling
mental health? (words that come to mind)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Glanrhyd**
Murderers
Disturbed
Psychos*
Dopey
Paedophiles
Mad/madness*
Autistic
Depression
Alzheimers/dementia
Strait jacket
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nutters in Glanrhyd
Hospitals
Homeless
Nutcase
Bereavement
Tablets-under control
Schizophrenia
Crazy*
Stupid
Fits
Cuckoo
13
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Brain Tumour
• Short in the head
Disabled/disabilities
• Mentally disabled
Insecurity
• Serious problems
Insane
• Unstable
Suicide
• Nervous breakdown
Retard/retarded
• Down’s Syndrome
Loonies
• Loopy
Old people in Glanrhyd
• Stutter
Crack up under stress
• Split personality
Self harmers
Detox
You can have good mental health
Ward 14 – break from stress / time- out
Are you taught anything about this at school?
• Not really
• Sometimes discuss bullying
• Personal & Social education (PSE) is a waste of time*
• PSE is usually about sex/community stuff
• Given handouts – not always explained
• PSE lessons should introduce talks like this to help young
people to understand and cope with emotions
• Some issues are in booklets but there needs to be more
discussions that lead somewhere not just a page in a book.
• More in years 7 & 8 less in Years 9 & 10
• PSE is a chance for teachers to catch up on their
paperwork so we just get on with other things
14
Question 2. Who are you most likely to talk to when you feel
sad/upset/under pressure?
a) School
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Friends**
Best friend only
Nobody (*males)
Health & social care
teacher
Form teacher (younger
pupils) /favourite
teacher
Definitely not a teacher
Canteen lady
School council member
Brothers/sisters
PSE coordinator
School counselor but
this service is stopping
Not the school nurse
Counsellor/substance
misuse worker (Prison)
• Music teacher
• School nurse
• Dinner Lady (primary
and 1 secondary)
• Teachers Aide
• Youth Focus teacher
• Head teacher
• Someone who will
understand
• Nobody its my own
business
• Some teachers –not
nasty ones,
understanding
b) Home/Community
• Friends*
• Mother (depends what
its about/not sex or
drugs-boys)
• Youth Worker**
• Auntie/Gran (they have
more time to listen)
• Childline
• Use mobile phone to
talk to friends
• Family (depends)
• Health Visitor (Young
Mum)
• Boyfriend
• Parents/relatives*
• Psychiatrist via GP
• Trusted neighbour
• Helplines
• Social worker(LAC)
• GP
• Outreach youth worker
15
Question 3. What emotional support/mental health services are you
aware of in Bridgend County Borough? (Drop-ins/helplines/clinics etc)
The responses fell into the following categories:
National Helplines/campaigns
Substance misuse
service/campaigns
• Childline* / NSPCC*
• Samaritans*
• Free helpline phones
• Ogwr Dash
• F.R.A.N.K. (national
campaign)
• T.E.D.S.
Negative responses
• None
• Nothing for young
people
• Haven’t got a clue
• Don’t know
Adult Mental Health
• Ward 14
• Glanrhyd (not for YP)
• Caswell Clinic
• Mental Health Matters
(young people wouldn’t
go there)
General public services
• Social Services
• Clinic/surgery
• GP (parents would take
us)
• Police
• POW Hospital
• Social Services (but
avoid because they put
you on at risk
register/take baby into
care)
• Family planning
(Maesteg)
• Counsellors
• Church (bible club)
• Leaflets (some say they
don’t read leaflets)
• Internet Advice
Young People’s
Services/Support
• Link family (special
needs)
• Headteacher/deputy
head (Heronsbridge)
• School council
• KPC
• Youth Advice Clinic
Sexual Health Advice
Clinic (Sat)*
• Youth Gateway
• School nurse(some)
• Support staff
(Heronsbridge)
• Youth Focus (Maesteg
Town & School)
• Info shop (not always
open) (what is it?)
• Dr. Potters Clinic
16
Question 4. How do you find out about the services you need or
would like to use? (information points/internet/speakers at school)
School Info Points (but not always accessible during break/lunch
times)(won’t use it in front of friends)
Internet*
Ask people/teachers
Ask youth workers
Don’t know
Local library
Buddy System
Community Clinics
Speakers
Yellow pages/directory
Phone hospital
Public libraries
Ask Health visitor
(Young Mum)
• Info point in leavers
unit (Heronsbridge)
• Telephone help lines
take too long need to
speak to someone face to face
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
GP
• Leaflets (sometimes)
• Healthcare unit leaflets
(HMP Parc)
• Youth Club
• School Planner
ind.diary/journal
(Porthcawl/Maesteg)
• Police station
• TV adverts/teletext
17
Question 5. Are there any services you would like to improve or
develop in Bridgend County Borough that will help young people with
their emotional health?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
More Youth Counsellors
Youth Worker for each community
Youth clubs open everyday
Youth workers in school*(particularly break/lunch times)
A drop-in info shop open in evenings
More advice on life skills/contraception
24hour helpline
Young people’s health unit
MH unit for YP
Short term hostel for YP– respite care/support
Young People Clinic within GP surgery
Understanding teachers (when under stress)
More fun education in school e.g. issue based
games/workshops
Trusted youth worker in schools
Confidential services in school
More outside agencies/experts for PSE lessons
Keep school counsellors
More free leisure facilities/chill out space/time
Peer support good idea but not enough support given
If there are services they need to advertise more
More school nurses
Young youth workers
More drop in youth centres with free pool tables/dance
studios
More lessons about this in school
More support from social services
Youth clubs cater for younger age group not 16+ should
be separate hours/night for 16+
Need a local drop-in information base open in evenings
with a worker to talk to.
More community police
Boxing club
Sexual health advice centre in Cornelly
18
Any further comments:
Concerns/worries
• Bullying – not listened to *
• Transport – Free for u16’s – clinics in town centre, cost of
transport puts us off
• Need local services
• If this youth club was open every night we wouldn’t get into
so much trouble
• Choices of subjects in school – would enjoy the subjects we
want to choose but forced to take subject from boxes
• Shelters should be provided in schools for break times in
bad weather
• Re-open community clinic
• Sexual health
• School stress
• Is there a mental health clinic in town?
• High suicide rate in Porthcawl - need local services
• PSE lessons should cover more about life skills/budgeting
• More projects like the Way Forward project –good to meet
others in same situation, support from peers.
• Teachers inform social services about family problems could
go on ‘at risk register’
• Lucky to have KPC open all day
• PSE lessons too boring/more experts needed/use community
projects but follow up.
• Fresh air & exercise is good for you so we need more local
facilities with some shelter for bad weather
• After a long day at work BMX helps me chill out
• It’s good to talk to someone about what we think or would
like to have not many people ask us they think we are scum.
• PSE – rubbish we don’t do any work/should be more
discussions about emotional stuff/personal issues
• Buddy system needs more support
• Don’t trust anybody so have to help yourself
• Anger management not much use
• Youth services are for younger kids
• Young people are not seen as individuals
• Education system is crap doesn’t offer enough
• Drug talks make you wanna try new things
• Sports camp is good
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• Not safe – too much drugs/alcohol/car racing/dark
alleys/vandalism
• Make skate park safer – better lights & some cover, an
outreach worker could visit the skate park to monitor drug
/alcohol use
• Don’t know about the Info Shop
• Need public toilets in community
• Nothing will be done! Been asked all this before
• Not safe to go out on my own
• No where to go in Cornelly - easy to get into drugs
• More pressure from prison officers – length of sentence
Key messages from responses
Emotional Health/Mental Health:
Children and young people do not have a clear understanding of what is
meant by the term ‘Emotional Health’. Discussions only developed from
prompts on some occasions.
Bullying and anger are the two of the most common words in young people’s
minds when discussing emotions as well as happy/sad.
The majority of children and young people within this consultation prefer the
term emotional health as opposed to mental health because of the stigma –
names associated with mental health.
Service Provision:
More quality youth services are needed to ensure equal opportunities for all
children and young people.
A wider provision of activities is needed particularly for females. The Internet
and the media promote diverse activities that young people wish to take part
in, local services need to address diversity as well as ‘mainstream’ sports.
Young People have not identified a specific service within BCB where young
people can access support/advice regarding emotional health problems.
Young people rely on each other for support but lack the knowledge and
understanding to cope themselves.
Children and young people feel that teachers are not the right people to lead
discussions around emotional/mental health. The utilization of ‘an expert’ is
preferred to take PSE lessons.
PSE is seen as the ideal tool for delivering emotional health promotion as
young people see it as a personal educational need but for those young
people who do not attend school youth workers are seen as the key people to
offer advice and support.
Some comments from young people highlight the need for more advocacy
workers particularly within HMP Parc Prison.
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Information:
More accessible information needed. Develop more info points in all schools
in accessible areas.
If there are services within BCB not many young people know about them
more promotion needed.
Young people prefer to gain information informally face-to face on most
occasions but there is also a need to be able to access information
individually and discreetly without having to ask for it.
What children and young people want:
The participants of this consultation have valued being asked their opinion of
services but would also value people paying attention to what they have said.
Children and young people want to feel safe in their communities and be
offered the opportunity to have their say more often.
Young people realize that they cannot get everything they request but when
offered the chance to provide a shopping list from my fictional millions of
pounds they asked for more free outdoor leisure facilities and for more adults
to understand them and listen to them.
Conclusion
It has been assumed in the past that because young people do not access health
services regularly that they have fewer health problems than younger children.
WAG Extending Entitlement document (2000) states:
‘8.4 These assumptions are being challenged and there is a greater awareness of
unmet health needs amongst young people, and the very strong connections
between their physical and mental health and between their emotional health and
their education. Some studies suggest that as many as 40% of children may not be
capable emotionally of taking advantage of educational opportunities.
8.9 Steps to improve support services for young people in Wales have a major part
to play in promoting the health of young people:
• By providing a network of entry points for information and advice with a
wider information services strategy for young people
• By promoting the skills to take decisions and make lifestyle choices, which
are crucial, both to healthy living and to success in learning.
• By helping young people to develop successful relationships
• By helping young people to contend with negative pressure which
impacts on their physical and mental health
• By addressing the increasing prevalence of psychosocial disorders in young
people (especially suicide amongst young men, and eating disorders among
young women)’
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Health, Social Care and Well Being (HSCWB) Strategy for Bridgend County
Borough 2004
The HSCWB strategy is to be implemented in conjunction with the Bridgend
Community Strategy in addressing the needs of the population of Bridgend
County Borough.
The local priorities for children and young people include:
• Implement prevention and care aspects of the Family Support Strategy
• Develop and implement ‘healthy lifestyles’ programme targeting those
children and young people most at risk.
The children and young people of Bridgend County Borough clearly identify the need
for more preventative services in the form of leisure, recreation and education
relating to emotional health. An increase in suitable accessible leisure activities and
informal support mechanisms will assist in the development of healthier children and
young people both physically and emotionally.
Children and young people do not know where to go for emotional health support.
Although they have found the consultation discussions very useful as a learning tool
there is still a great deal of work to be done.
‘If mental health issues are to be taken seriously in schools, there is a need for work
not just at local level with schools but also, more strategically, at education authority
level.’ (Mental Health Today Dec 2004)
The HSCWB Strategic Aim for Mental Health includes ’Promote good mental
health, challenge stigma’ this consultation demonstrates how young people
define and perceive mental health and identifies the huge task ahead to
change attitudes.
The WAG National Service Framework for children, Young People and
Maternity Services in Wales addresses mental health promotion within the
key actions universal to all children defining three levels:
- ‘Strengthening the emotional resilience of individuals by promoting
self-esteem and coping skills;
- Strengthening communities (including schools) by improving social
inclusion, safety, childcare and self-help networks;
- Reducing structural barriers to mental health by promoting access to
education, employment, suitable housing and effective services to
meet the needs of those who are vulnerable’
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Recommendations
To address all the issues raised within this consultation there is a need to:
Strengthen the co-ordinated approach for service development
Strengthen the involvement of children, young people and their families as
active partners via the Children and Young People’s Partnership Framework.
Ensure that the dimension of emotional health is incorporated into all
mainstream service provision for children and young people.
Promote the ‘whole school approach to improving mental and social well
being that include both staff as well as pupils’ as highlighted within the WAG
NSF for Children, Young People and Maternity Services in Wales consultation
document.
Should sufficient funding become available a Young People’s Emotional Health
Project/Co-ordinator is the ideal solution.
A specific community based project or co-ordinator would provide a focal
point for information, advice and support for children, young people and their
families who do not necessarily need medically based interventions.
A Young People’s Emotional Health Co-ordinator placed within a drop-in
information shop would support current youth service provision in addressing
the emotional needs of young people.
Based on the children and young people’s comments relating to some
statutory services the co-ordinator would be best placed within the voluntary
sector but working within a partnership approach.
A Young people’s Emotional Health Project/Coordinator would provide a
communication link to specialist CAMHS including the Primary Mental Health
Workers currently being recruited within Bridgend County Borough as well as
other emotional health/support services and support mainstream services in
addressing the emotional health dimension within their core business.
The evidence within this report demonstrates the need to raise awareness of
the emotional needs of children and young people within Bridgend County
Borough; a Young People’s Emotional Health Project/Co-ordinator would be
well placed to co-ordinate local campaigns.
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Bibliography
CAMHS Costed Plan 2004 (South Wales CAMHS Managed Clinical Network
In partnership with the respective Local Health Boards)
Health, Social Care & Well Being Strategy for Bridgend County Borough (April 20052008)
Iechyd Morgannwg Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: A Health
Needs Assessment for Iechyd Morgannwg Health. ( 2001)
Mental Health Today, ‘Tackling them young’, Philomena JF de Lima/Karen Howells,
Inverness College/UHI Millennium Institute (December 2004)
Welsh Assembly Government Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services:
‘Everybody’s Business’. (2001)
Welsh Assembly Government Extending Entitlement: supporting young people in
Wales (2000)
Welsh Assembly Government National Service Framework for Children, young
people and Maternity Services in Wales, Consultation Document (2004)
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