Mental health and wellbeing

'Let’s get it right first time'

Mental health disorders in children and young people are increasing:

• One in ten has a diagnosable mental disorder;
• Many more have mental health problems, all of which can have a long-term impact; 
• A child with a physical illness is two to five times as likely to develop an emotional disorder.

It is important therefore to recognise our communal responsibility to positively address the psychological development and wellbeing of children and young people.

The RCPCH is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of children and young people. Recognising the importance of the mental health agenda, the College currently has a number of work streams focused on improving core skills for healthcare professionals:

Policy
Research
RCPCH mental health education
Publications
Guidelines
Affiliations 
 

Policy

The College has recently worked collaboratively with other professional bodies on a statement(PDF, 205KB, 2 pages) to the government to recognise the improvements needed in mental health services for children and young people. We are committed to working together to ensure that every individual receives high quality, timely and appropriate care from the outset.

Research

Childhood eating disorders: British national surveillance study (PDF, 115KB, 7 pages) Nicholls, Lynn & Viner, The British Journal of Psychiatry (2011) 198, 295–301

Ascertainment of Early Onset Eating Disorders: A Pilot for Developing a National Child Psychiatric Surveillance System (PDF, 212KB, 5 pages) Lynn, Viner & Nicholls, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Journal, (2012) 2, 109-112

RCPCH mental health education 

How to Manage: Mental Health in General Paediatrics

Conitnuing the 'How to Manage' workshop series, this one day workshop has been specially designed for paediatric trainees, SSASGs and consultants who want to improve their ability to appropriately manage those children who present in clinic with a mental health condition.

8^th October 2012, RCPCH London

View the full programme and details

e-Learning

The following e-learning tools are free to all NHS health professionals and include modules with material covering mental health in children and young people. 

Adolescent Health Programme (AHP)

Healthy Child Programme (HCP)

Publications

Guidance for commisioners of mental health services for young people making the transition from child and adolescent to adult services (PDF, 643KB, 20 pages) A short collaborative publication working to ensure quality of mental health services at the point of transition. Produced by RCGP and RCpsych with RCPCH representation by Dr. Avril Washington, former convenor of the British Paediatric Mental Health Group. (February 2012)

No health without mental health (PDF, 705KB, 103 pages): This government strategy, published by the Department of Health, sets out six shared objectives to improve the mental health and well-being of the nation, and to improve outcomes for people with mental health problems through high quality services. (February 2010)

I think I must have been born bad – emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people in the youth justice system (PDF, 2.5MB, 80 pages): In early 2010, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner established and led a group of experts from non-Governmental agencies to observe and examine the provisions in place for supporting and promoting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people in the youth justice system, and in particular those in detention. 

Guidelines

National clinical guidelines on children and young people’s mental health have been written by NICE and SIGN and are either supported or endorsed by the RCPCH

Medicines for Children is a collaborative project that publishes free information leaflets about paediatric medication, written especially for parents and carers. There are many leaflets that cover medicines used for mental health conditions in children and young people.

Affiliations

The RCPCH supports the work of relevant special interest groups:

British Paediatric Mental Health Group

Young People’s Health Special Interest Group

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