Agenda item

Emma Whitby and Sarah Lee, Information, Learning and Development Manager at Healthwatch Islington, introduced the report which set out the findings of a review of mental health services for young adults.

The following main points were noted in the discussion:

·         The feedback received on mental health services was very broad and highlighted the impact of employment and housing on mental health.

·         Healthwatch had asked 50 qualitative questions to a range of young adults; some had acute mental health conditions. Respondents had been identified by working with local organisations including homeless charities and cultural groups. Young adults had been trained to interview their peers and it was thought that this process was particularly successful.

·         Issues identified included stigma associated with mental health issues, a lack of trust in support services and a lack of access to services. The review also highlighted issues experienced by certain groups: some LGBT respondents identified that they were particularly vulnerable to social isolation; a lower proportion of Black men tended to access services; and Bangladeshi women reported a high level of stigma and that mental health issues were primarily dealt with within the family. 

·         Many interviews highlighted the role of the family as being either positive or negative, depending on the circumstances. Some young people felt isolated and that they could not discuss their condition with their family or employer.

·         It was suggested that improvements could be made through greater integration of services. In particular, access and trust could be improved by using non-medical organisations as an entry point to mental health services. It was thought that holistic approaches to mental wellbeing and delivering more services in community settings would be beneficial.

·         It was recommended that mental health services should be packaged in such a way that they could be accessed without the individual identifying themselves as someone in need of mental health support. It was commented that local services should be shaped to the needs of service users.

·         The Board noted the potential for integrated personal budgets to be used creatively when addressing mental health issues. Some young adults had not engaged with traditional treatments and an alternative approach was required.

·         It was suggested that young people regularly moved between local areas and there was a need to improve transitional arrangements between different localities. There was also a need to improve transitions between child and adult mental health services; it was thought that this would be best achieved by co-designing transition mechanisms with young people.

·         It was noted that Public Health and Adult Social Services were reviewing the support available to people with multiple vulnerabilities, including mental health needs. The Board considered the notion of ‘Mental Health First Aid’ and the role of local communities in improving mental health. Peer to peer support was a particular area of interest.

·         The Board welcomed the report and advised that a full response would be made at a future meeting. It was noted that Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust would be keen to contribute to the response.

·         The Board noted that non-specialist NHS staff were receiving training on mental health issues.  

RESOLVED:
That the findings and recommendations of the Healthwatch Islington review of mental health services for young adults be noted.