Making sense of mental health

From October 2018 to January 2019, Healthwatch Lewisham carried out a project with two main aims. First, to educate children and young people (CYP) on what mental health is and how to look after their wellbeing. Second, to capture the views of CYP on their mental health needs and services available to them, and to identify where any gaps may fall. Healthwatch Lewisham held a workshop, conducted a survey and held a focus group with CYP.

Key findings reported that: overall, CYP were confident on how to look after their physical health, but much less assured on how to look after their mental health; two of the top five mental health concerns amongst CYP were school-related; overall, females were more likely to experience an indicator of poor mental health than males, as well as higher levels of anxiety and self-harm; stress was a top concern amongst all age groups and genders; when experiencing an indicator of poor mental health, CYP were most likely to speak to a family member or a friend, and were four times more likely to speak to a teacher than a counsellor; 13% of CYP had used counselling services; CYP valued services that they felt had listened well, respected their privacy and were available readily, and were critical of long waiting lists for services.

Healthwatch Lewisham made several recommendations directed at commissioners, service providers and schools – surrounding new and existing mental health services for CYP, campaigns promoting resilience and tackling stigma, school-based support for mental health, a forum between schools, parents and mental health services, and further research on CYP mental health experiences in Lewisham. The report includes responses from Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, Lewisham CAMHS and local Commissioners.