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What am I?
Dawn Rees
This article looks at how the political drive to encourage multidisciplinary working is impacting on the professional identity of those providing the services. For instance, it looks at some of the concerns around generic mental health workers. Plus, it includes a list of some of the key issues teams need to consider to ensure successful multidisciplinary working.
Big break
Reva Klein
This article looks at an after-school break-dancing project in Islington, London, which is aimed specifically at boys. Local head-teachers requested the development of projects that would engage boys whilst also addressing their behavioural problems. They discovered after discussions with teachers, that boys were very keen on break-dancing and thought that they should be given the opportunity to develop their skills. The head-teachers decided that they wanted young, black break-dancers with professional teaching and dancing experience to provide positive black male role models and boost the boys’ self-esteem. They have found that being involved in the group has made the boys more confident, motivated and has enabled them to work better in groups.
Big spender
Robin Balbernie, Children's Express and Lord Adebowale
This debate asks five 'experts' what they would spend an imaginary pot of money on. Robin Balbernie, child psychotherapist, thought that the money should be used to fund infant mental health services. Nestor from Children's Express thought that it should be used to intervene as early as possible. Carmen and Charlotte from Children's Express thought that it should be used to support teenagers, and so prevent problems becoming more entrenched or serious. Finally, Lord Adebowale, Chief Executive of Turning Point thought that the money should go to supporting young adults, and providing appropriate and acceptable services for them.
Bridge building
Keren Corbett
This column looks at services for older adolescents and those transferring from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS). It looks at relevant policy initiatives in this area, some examples of good practice, and various research projects.
Creative thinking
Ani Grown, Diana Collins and Jenny Murphy
This article gives an insight into how art therapy is carried out within a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). The authors briefly describe why some children and young people benefit from art therapy. Plus, it also looks at the different ways that it can be carried out e.g. individually or in groups.
Emergency services
Jane Hurry, Pamela Storey and Cathy Brownjohn
This article is based on a Department of Health funded study which follows 16-22 year olds who make repeat presentations at Accident & Emergency (A&E;) with self-inflicted injury or overdose. The study is not yet complete, but early findings show that case notes in A&E; often failed to record living arrangements and other circumstances that may have important implications for the treatment of young people who self-harm. They state that there is a complex relationship between their mental state, their management of important areas of their lives and self-harming behaviour. So targeted support could make a big difference, but is rarely part of the package following contact with A&E.; The study also looks how young people were often discharged without any specialist assessment, and often received no referral or follow-up. The authors go on to discuss what this means to young people. For instance, many young people who wanted further help had great difficulty in accessing services. They conclude that there is a great mismatch between the way people live their lives and the way that follow-up services are organised to meet their needs.
Hardest to reach
Cathy Street
This article looks at some of the emerging findings from the YoungMinds' research project Minority Voices, which is in the process of gathering view from young people from minority ethnic groups, and their awareness and understanding and use of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). The author looks at the problems they have encountered during the course of the project and many of the concerns and suggestions that were given by young people.
Inside story
Angela Neustatter
This article looks at a series of books called 'It Happened to Me'. They are based on real interviews with children and young people who have experienced quite serious problems i.e. getting involved in crime, being bullied etc. The interviews explore the background to each story and look at what happened next.
Listening and learning
Jeannie Mackenzie and Wendy Kinnin
The authors discuss the development of the East Renfrewshire Youth Counselling Service (ERYCS), which was originally based in one of the new Integrated Community Schools, but has now been piloted in three secondary schools. The service was set-up using government funding, and is a partnership between the local education department and a voluntary organisation. They have proven that the service is acceptable to young people. In one academic year they received over 90 referrals and over 400 appointments were taken up.
Living dangerously
Debbie Ariyo
This article looks at the work of the organisation AFRUCA - Africans Unite Against Child Abuse, which was set up in 2001 to promote the welfare of African children in the UK. The author looks at the potential problems that African children moving to the UK might face. Plus, it looks at the work that they carry out with children, young people and the families, as well as the professionals who work with them.
Model practice
Tom Jefford and Bridgitte Squire
This article looks at how a youth offending team (YOT) has used multi systemic therapy (MST) as a model of intervention within their Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP). The authors give background information on MST, which research has shown to be an effective intervention with a lasting reduction in offending rates. They also look at how they administer MST, the importance of involving the family, and the needs of the staff. Data has been gathered centrally on the first 41 ISSPs so they have been able to evaluate their outcomes against the other programmes. They found that their completion rates (young person staying on the programme and not being incarcerated) are higher than the national average. With funding from the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) grant, they have expanded their referral base and now take non-criminal adolescents from CAMHS and social services departments.
Network first
Ruth Talbot
This article looks at the forthcoming YoungMinds' Looked After Children Learning Network. This network was funded by the Department of Health, and will be available on the YoungMinds website from July 2004.
Professional dilemma
Paul Caviston and Lee Miller
This article gives a fictional case of a seventeen-year-old man whose recent change in behaviour, which is often violent and involves heavy drinking, is causing concern to his family. This is followed by the opinions of a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and the YoungMinds' Consultancy and Training Manager. Both state what they would do if this child was referred to them.
Strategic thinking
Clare Lamb, Steve Riley and Gillian Davies
The authors give an overview of the development of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Wales post devolution. It covers strategic documents that have been published, and looks at how they are progressing. The article also looks at how changes to local and national organisations have impacted on how CAMHS are planned and commissioned. It also looks at the ongoing problems faced in Wales, such as the lack of certain services e.g. early intervention for psychosis services, problems with funding, lack of in-patient beds, and workforce issues.
View finder
Olivia Hewitt, Gillian Roose and Alexandra John
This project was set-up to explore children and young people's views on mental health. The participants were selected from year 6 and year 10 students, who had no known history or diagnosis of mental health problems. The four main themes that emerged were: difficulties in understanding mental health; confusion surrounding accessing help and support; staff gender and what constitutes an ideal service. They found that many of the participants were unsure about accessing mental health services in schools, mainly because of concerns around confidentiality and anonymity. Most young people wanted a drop-in service in an ordinary house that was open at the weekends and evenings, and staffed by a variety of male and female professionals of different ages, and sexual orientations.
Review: Bad education
Imogen Le Patourel
This is a review of Bad Education (Certificate 15, subtitles), the latest film by Pedro Almodovar. It is a stylish, erotically charged enigma of many layers, which has its roots in the awakening attraction between two boys in a Catholic boarding school in the 1960s. The reviewer states that this is a "must-see tour de force in which adults look back on the formative moments of childhood to comprehend the people they have become, reinventing the past and themselves through a veil of nostalgia, pretence and artistry".
Review: Multicoloured mayhem
Sophie Dow
The author of this book is the mother of seven children, many of whom have special needs. She is the mother of Luke Jackson, who wrote Freaks, Geeks and Asperger's Syndrome. This is a well researched book and gives a comprehensive, yet easy to understand definition of most neuro-developmental difficulties as well as short descriptions of various remedial methods. On the whole, the review thought that this is very helpful book and shouldn't be judged by its cover.
Review: The emotional literacy handbook and Developing the emotionally literate school
Peter Wilson
Both of these books are visionary and easy to read. This vision resides in their authors' convictions about the vital role schools can play in developing and widening the literacy of emotions. Both of these books are worth reading, and open up a picture of what can achieved in schools in the best interests of the children. Katherine Weare's book is longer, and more detailed, but Antidote's book carries the greater fervour.
Review: To die for
Caroline McIntyre
This book is the true story of a young girl's relationship and struggle with anorexia nervosa. It gives a harrowing account of how the illness of anorexia nervosa overwhelms the life and personality of the sufferer. This is certainly not an enjoyable read, but if you are curious to see what it is like to be in the disturbed mind of a person with anorexia nervosa and what it is like to have a close relationship with someone with this illness, you probably could not do better.
Webwatch: Hotting up
Rachel Hindley
This column looks at websites that cover topical school related issues that arise over the summer for young people, parents and teachers, such as exams and changing or returning to school in September.
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