Innovation fund aims to improve mental healthcare for young people

Children and young people across England are set to benefit from a range of local initiatives designed to improve access to mental health services, promote well-being and provide tailored support.

The initiatives will be delivered by the recipients of Health Education England’s (HEE) mental health Innovation Fund launched in December.  

Around £3 million funding was awarded to HEE from the Department of Health (DH) to distribute to organisations proposing care innovations that put young patients at the centre of mental health services.

Some 35 NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups, charities and local authorities will receive funds that range from £5,000 in one case to just under £200,000 in another.

They include the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust in Reading which supports young people with depression and their families. The award of £175,545 will help the charity to grow its pastoral service to local schools, and provide the right skills staff to provide effective early intervention and support for young people with mental health issues.

The Hearing Services department of Sheffield Children’s Hospital will use £12,353 to transform early intervention for mental health and wellbeing for children and young people with audiological difficulties, such as hearing loss and tinnitus.  

NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group will use their award (£5,135) to create a Learning Disability Health Passport and ‘About Me’ cards for children and young people.

Hampshire Children and Adult Mental Health Services is using £45,000 to launch a campaign called ‘Mind Your Head’, which involves taking health services out into the community, providing easy access for young people from a mobile clinic and health promotional vehicle.

Swindon Borough Council will use £71,100 to fund extra training and support for parents and carers to improve support for young people with mental health issues and promote wellbeing.

The Health Council for Disabled Children is launching an expert parent programme with their award of £116,531 to support families with a view to enhancing and improving their mental health services experience.

Children and families in Nottinghamshire are set to benefit from a scheme which aims to boost their resilience by helping them to keep calm and reduce stress. Funding of £127,000 will enable the not for profit organisation Each Amazing Breath to deliver the project, with support from Nottinghamshire County Council. Frontline staff such as teachers, youth workers and family support workers will be trained up to advocate the techniques within the community, as part of the initiative.

Minister for Mental Health Alistair Burt said:

I am proud that this government is delivering on its commitment to young people. This new funding will mean people who deal with young people every day, such as healthcare and school staff, can be trained to better support them and also that young people will be able to provide peer to peer support.

We know that 'more of the same' is not an option - this is building on the NHS’ five year plan for mental health and is part of the biggest transformation to young people's mental health with one of the greatest investments the sector has seen.

Professor Lisa Bayliss-Pratt, Director of Nursing and Deputy Director of Education and Quality said:

I am excited by the range of schemes that have been funded to provide services targeted at the specific mental health needs of children and young people. It is pleasing that we a wide range of organisations, from a variety of sectors involved, so that there is fresh, new thinking from people who work each day in their communities with vulnerable young people. That local involvement is important as we need to help to provide greater access to the services that can make a difference to young lives.