Young people in Gloucestershire benefit from mental health awareness film

CHILDREN in Gloucestershire who suffer from mental health issues can now benefit from a new film about young people’s mental health.

Soon to be available on the internet, the film will encourage young people to seek help with mental health issues and raise awareness of the support available.

The film, which is part of the Children and Young People’s IAPT – Improving Access to Psychological Therapies initiative, was created by a group of young people from 2gether’s Children and Young People’s Board, working with the charity Action for Children.

2gether NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, substance misuse and learning disability services for people of all ages across Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

Mathew Page, children and young people service director for the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, said, how important is was to get help early as it can prevent more serious problems from developing both in childhood and in later life.

“We have been working to support children for many years, which is important as figures show that one in ten children aged between five and 16 have a clinically diagnosable mental health difficulty,” he said.

Helen Ford, commissioner of children’s cervices, NHS Gloucestershire, said so far, over 100 children, young people and families have been helped by IAPT

“Our services are at the forefront of innovation, enabling children and young people to access the most up to date evidence based support.”

Last year the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, with NHS Gloucestershire, became part of one of the first partnerships in the country set up to develop new ways of providing early intervention to improve the mental health of young people.

To find out more about our Children and Young People Service go to www.2gether.nhs.uk/cyps.