Event Details

Key Speakers

	Bruce Calderwood, Director of Mental Health, Disability and Equality, Department of Health
	Kathryn Pugh, Lead, Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Programme, Department of Health
	Barbara Fittall, Development Manager, CAMHS Payment by Results Team, Department of Health
	Sarah Brennan, Chief Executive, YoungMinds

Overview

One in ten children aged 5-16 years has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem and, of adults with long-term mental health problems, half will have experienced their first symptoms before the age of 14 and three quarters before their mid-20s. The first public health strategy to give equal weight to both mental and physical health; “Healthy Lives, Healthy People” focuses on tackling underlying causes of mental ill-health by putting the emphasis on early intervention and prevention in partnership with the NHS, local government and third sector.

Failure to treat mental health disorders in children can have a devastating impact on their future, resulting in reduced job and life expectations. As such, the Mental Health Strategy “No Health Without Mental Health” (February 2011) set out an extension to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme to children and young people with an investment of £32m. Furthermore, in February 2012, the Government announced an extra £22m in funding for investment in the Children and Young People’s IAPT Project to give children with health problems access to the best available services in a wider range of places.

The cost of mental health problems to the economy in England has recently been estimated at £105bn with treatment costs expecting to double in the next 20 years. Providing an early intervention approach rather than standard mental health care could deliver savings of £38,000 per person over 10 years. Intervening early for children with mental health problems has been shown not only to reduce health costs but also realise larger savings such as improved educational outcomes and reduced unemployment and crime.

This timely symposium provides an invaluable opportunity to raise awareness of prevention and early intervention and discuss the vital role that local health practitioners and schools can perform in identifying those at risk of mental health problems at a young age. This symposium will assess the implications of the Mental Health Strategy and how it will affect service delivery in order to improve the mental health and well-being of every child.

Delegates will:

• Analyse the latest Government strategies for promoting mental health and well-being in children and young people
• Examine ways in which to identify warning signs for children at higher risk of mental health problems
• Discuss better mental health service delivery of front line practitioners through improved training and awareness
• Explore the vital role of multi-agency working in supporting parents and services to change

Programme

Who Should Attend?

• CAMHS Practitioners
• Commissioning Managers
• School Nurses and Health Visitors
• Directors of Children’s Services
• Families Services Officers
• Schools and Children's Trusts
• Early Years Practitioners
• General Practitioners
• Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinators
• Sexual Health Strategy Co-ordinators
• Local, Regional and National Health Services
• Health Treatment/Advisory Services
• Teachers and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators
• Counselling Services
• Connexions
• Health Promotion Advisers
• Child and Educational Psychologists
• Family Planning Specialists
• Looked After/Children in Care Teams
• Drug and Alcohol Action Teams
• GUM Clinics
• Social Workers and Social Services Officers
• Child Protection Officers
• Youth Workers and Youth Offending Teams
• Community Safety Teams
• Police Service
• Central Government Departments and Agencies
• Third Sector Representatives
• Academics and Researchers

“ Too many young people suffer in silence with mental health problems. This is vital investment that will give children the very best tailored treatment to restore them to good health, so that their illnesses are not simply swept under the carpet
… The money we are investing today will work specifically for children on therapies that are proven to work. Mental health must have the same priority as physical health. Giving children the treatment they need as soon as they need it will help ensure that millions of children suffering from a mental health problem will have a fairer opportunity to succeed in life. ”
— ‘Deputy Prime Minister, February 2012

“ We broke new ground last year investing in children’s mental health – this additional funding will help deliver services specific to young people. We’re working with young people and staff to start to change the way mental health is delivered by the NHS. Half of those with mental health problems first experience symptoms by the age of 14, and three quarters before their mid-20s. This pioneering work will focus on early and effective treatment. We know psychological therapies work. Our aim is to transform existing mental health services for children so our children get the best treatment possible, from services that are more responsive to their needs.”
— Care Services Minister, February 2012