Kirklees Keep in Mind
Overview
Discussion on Mental Health Support Team (MHST), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
140 students from schools across Kirklees attended a focus group, 86 were from secondary schools and 54 were from primary schools.
They were asked the following questions:
- What do you think would be the best way to inform students in your school of the MHST service?
- How would you want an intervention to be delivered?
- What do you think the positives of using the MHST service might be?
- Why do you think some young people may not want to access our services?
- How could we make CYP more comfortable in accessing the service?
- What do you think would make groups more accessible to CYP?
- Intervention is usual once a week over 6-8 weeks – how do you think it would be best to measure the impact?
- What would encourage you to work with the MHST and apply the skills covered?
- What changes would you like to see in school to support your wellbeing?
The key themes from the feedback were:
Information and resources: to promote service, signpost to website, coping mechanisms, frequently asked question section, staff biographies, tools to speak to parents, anonymous quotes on website, target based option for self-confidence, evaluation tools.
- First session: consider person’s preferences and concerns, ground rules, introduce practitioner so pupil get to know them before working together.
- School: PSE lessons to include topics on mental health, wellbeing champions, staff training self-harm, worries journal, reward system for completing and engaging in activities, workshops on worry strategies, animal therapy visits, after school club for wellbeing including outdoor activities.
- Access: review DNA/DNE appointments to assess needs and locations where service can be provided, rather than just school grounds.
A further focus group was also held with parents/carers for their feedback. You can access the full report by emailing: Julia.Chalmers@swyt.nhs.uk
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