Posted on Tuesday 13th November 2018
A proposed new approach to helping children and young people with mental health issues in Staffordshire will be considered by Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet.
If agreed, the new joint approach by the county council and Clinical Commissioning Groups will see children and young people with mental health and emotional wellbeing issues get the right help at the right time.
Staffordshire County Council and local Clinical Commissioning Groups have joined forces in a commitment to improve children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The strategy focuses on tackling stigma and improving attitudes to mental illness, ensuring there are mechanisms of support in local communities to help children and young people.
Around 40% of all young people experience at least one mental health issue by the age of 16. With 225,000 children and young people living in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, this means around 90,000 will experience an issue with their emotional health and wellbeing.
The new approach to mental health will mean more children and young people will be supported to achieve good mental health, and will exercise more choice and control to make healthier and safer choices in relation to their emotional wellbeing.
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Mark Sutton said:
“Promoting good mental health and helping young people who are experiencing issues with their emotional wellbeing is key to ensuring they can move into adulthood successfully. Children and young people with good emotional health are better able to learn, participate and achieve their potential. By supporting young people to get the right help at the right time and working with our partners to raise awareness and address their needs, we can ensure that any experience of poor emotional wellbeing and mental health will not have a detrimental effect on their future.”
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet will meet to discuss the report on November 21.