Agenda item

Southwark Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Strategy & Well-being Transformation Plan 2015 - 2020 is enclosed, along with a cover report.

Presenting the report will be Dick Frak (Southwark Council), Carole-Ann Murray (NHS Southwark CCG) and Jean Young (NHS Southwark CCG).

Dick Frak, Interim Commissioning Director, Southwark Council;  and  Carole-Ann Murray, NHS Southwark CCG presented the strategy and well-being transformation plan. Jean Young, NHS Southwark CCG, sent her apologies.  The committee was joined by the council Mental Health champion, Councillor Helen Dennis.

Below is a summary of the question and answer session that took place following the presentation: 

Q) Many of the conditions listed are mainly female focused; however there is no mention of gender other than higher suicide rate of young men.

A): We will take that back: girls and women are more over represented in services. This might be partly because men are less likely to come forward earlier in distress, which may account for higher suicide rates for boys and young men. However I agree there is a need to think about gender differentiation more from both perspectives.

Q) Have you considered the impact of social media?

A) An evidence base is still emerging. The jury is out on if social media is a positive or negative impact. Cyber bullying is a concern.

Q) Concerns have been raised about access to services in times of crisis, and in particular being seen behind a curtain in King’s Hospital Denmark Hill Accident & Emergency clinic.

 A) Better provision at emergency and crisis prevention has been added to the plan, and Home Treatment has been improved.

Q) Can you please clarify what the reference to moving people closer to the home means in the strategy?

A) This is a reference to moving people closer to home that are currently in institutions located outside the borough

Q): The scrutiny review ‘Narrowing the Achievement Gap’ report identified that there needed to be improved provision of Mental Health in schools and a named CAMHS link for each school.

A): There is a CAMHS offer imbedded in the Early Help offer which is linked to schools. This service was identified as useful and helpful and so this service has been enhanced. There will be a named team; each school will have a link with Early Help.

Q) Concern was raised about thresholds and young people not being diagnosed with a condition, but still presenting in need : some young people are not getting services when they might need them and presenting in emergency.

 A) Yes, some young people do not fit into neat diagnosis categories and the emphasis needs to be on meeting their needs.

Q)  Why are only 23% Southwark young people accessing services rather than the national average of 30%? Also what about minority groups: LGBT and BAME?  Are young people able to self referring? 

A) We are encouraging self referral for eating disorders as the evidence does support this. Figures are a little out of date - Southwark is now closer to the 30% figure.

Q) Where are we in the journey of change?

 A) The start.

Q How is co- production being delivered?

A) Speakerbox and Young Minds are involved in delivery group, and the service is linked in with Healthwatch.

Q) What about skunk, cannabis, substance misuse and links with psychosis and mental health? Will there be messages be in schools about the dangers.

A) Yes, this will need to happen.

Q) What proportion is invested in prevention rather than cure?

 A) Relatively low, most investment is in specialist services, however the plan is expecting to see a move towards more investment in prevention redress this.

Q)  Will bullying be tackled by raising awareness of the consequences and affect bulling has on poor mental health?

A) Yes, there is more understanding of mental health and wellbeing, particularly in school and the health benefits of learning techniques like mindfulness and developing resilience.

Q) Will there be an annual review?

A)  Yes, there will be an implantation report and quarterly returns to central government.

RESOLVED

The scrutiny review on bullying, and the recommendations from this review on cyber bullying in particular, will be sent to officers.