Child and adolescent mental health – a guide for healthcare professionals
June 2006
Further information
This listing of organisations and publications is intended for further information only. The BMA is not responsible for the content or accuracy of external websites, nor does it endorse or otherwise guarantee the veracity of statements made in non-BMA publications.
English government
Department of Health
www.dh.gov.uk - go to the website here
Relevant publications include:
- 'Choosing health: making healthy choices easier' (2004): sets out initiatives aimed at improving the health of the nation, including mental health and the health of children and young people.
- 'Delivering race equality in mental health. A plan for reform inside and outside services and the government’s response to the death of David Bennett' (2005).
- 'Improvement, expansion and reform – the next three years: priorities and planning framework 2003-2006' (2002).
- National Service Frameworks providing guidance on different aspects of healthcare. Includes the 'National service framework for children, young people and maternity services' (2004), and the 'National service framework for mental health' (1999).
- 'Promoting the health of looked after children' (2000).
- 'Tackling health inequalities. A programme for action' (2003).
www.dfes.gov.uk - go to the website here
- 'Every child matters: change for children' (2004) sets out a national framework focusing on all aspects of children’s lives. www.everychildmatters.org.uk - read more here
- 'Children looked after in England (including adoptions and care leavers) 2004-05' (2005).
- 'Outcome indicators for looked after children: twelve months to September 2004, England' (2005).
- 'Youth matters green paper' (2005): The consultation document was published in July 2005, and the government’s response to comments was published in March 2006.
www.socialexclusion.gov.uk - go to the website here
Scotland
Scottish Executive
www.scotland.gov.uk - go to the website here
- 'Children and young people’s mental health: A framework for promotion, prevention and care' (2004)
- 'For Scotland’s children. Better integrated children’s services' (2001)
- 'National programme for improving mental health and well-being' (2001): provides guidance for raising the profile of mental health through promotion and prevention, and encouraging recovery.
- 'Our national health. A plan for action, a plan for change' (2001). The Scottish Executive’s plan to reform the NHS, identifying mental health as a key priority.
- 'Partnership for care. Scotland’s health white paper' (2003).
www.healthscotland.com - go to the website here
HeadsUpScotland
www.headsupscotland.com - go to the website here
A project working to support the implementation of the recommendations of the SNAP report for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, aiming to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. It is part of the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing which has identified children and young people as one of six priority areas.
Wales
National Assembly for Wales
www.wales.gov.uk - go to the website here
- 'Child and adolescent mental health services. Everybody’s business' (2001). A ten-year programme aimed at establishing effective services for children and young people across Wales.
- 'National service framework for children, young people and maternity services' (2005): A ten-year strategy, with a chapter focusing in child and adolescent mental health
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk - go to the website here
- 'Promoting mental health. Strategy and action plan 2003-2008' (2003). A strategy which aims to reduce the incidence and risk of mental health problems and raise awareness of mental health.
- 'Review of mental health and learning disability (Northern Ireland). Vision of a comprehensive child and adolescent mental health service' (2005). A comprehensive review of CAMHS in Northern Ireland, which found that the overall quality, consistency, accessibility of services is inadequate.
www.niamh.co.uk - go to the website here
Provides local support in the form of a wide range of services and information for those suffering from poor mental health across Northern Ireland. The website has links to organisations which offer help for mental health problems.
Independent and voluntary organisations
BestTreatments
www.besttreatments.co.uk - go to the website here
Website produced by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) which provides information for patients and doctors based on available research about conditions and treatments available.
CAMHS Outcome Research Consortium (CORC)
www.camhoutcomeresearch.org.uk - go to the website here
A collaboration between a number of CAMHS in the UK, CORC working to develop and pilot a model for routine evaluation of outcome of CAMHS, to provide high quality information for service providers, commissioners, users and their families.
Institute of Child Health
www.gosh.nhs.uk/gosh/clinicalservices/DCAMH/ - go to the website here
A collaboration between University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital. The Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health provides highly specialised services.
Mental Health Alliance
www.mentalhealthalliance.org.uk - go to the website here
A coalition of user groups, charities, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists and other interested parties, which is campaigning for a new mental health act which provides a legal right to assessment and care, reducing the need for compulsory treatment.
Mental Health Foundation
www.mhf.org.uk - go to the website here
A mental health charity which aims to help people survive and recover from mental health problems through the provision of services and information. They also seek to raise public awareness through campaigning and influencing policy, and carry out research. They provide information on a wide range of mental health problems, including publications specifically dealing with children and young people.
www.selfharmuk.org - go to the website here
Website of the national inquiry carried out by the Mental Health Foundation and Camelot Foundation, into self-harm among young people.
Mind
www.mind.org.uk - go to the website here
A mental health charity in England and Wales. They work to influence policy through campaigning and education, promote the development of high quality services, challenge discrimination and promote inclusion. They produce fact sheets providing information on children and young people and mental health for health professionals, children and young people themselves, and carers and parents.
National Children’s Bureau
www.ncb.org.uk - go to the website here
An umbrella organisation for the children’s sector in England and Northern Ireland, providing information on policy, research and best practice.
National CAMHS Support Service
www.camhs.org.uk - go to the website here
Provides information and examples of good practice to support those working in child and adolescent mental health services. It works strategically in establishing common standards of practices and strengthening procedures in commissioning and provision.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
www.nice.org.uk - go to the website here
An independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.
National Institute for Mental Health in England
http://nimhe.csip.org.uk/home - go to the website here
Organisation responsible for implementing strategies to support positive change in mental health and mental health services, and partly funded by the Department of Health. Its priorities include workforce development, and changes in practice and systems to ensure efficient and effective care.
- SHIFT: programme to tackle stigma and discrimination faced by those with mental health problems.
- 'Contact: A directory for mental health 2005' (London: DH). A directory of organisations providing services to those suffering from mental health problems, including organisations aimed specifically at children and young people.
www.statistics.gov.uk - go to the website here
Has produced reports on the prevalence of mental health disorders among children in Great Britain, and among looked after children in England, Wales and Scotland.
Research in Practice: supporting evidence-informed practice with children and families
www.rip.org.uk/index.asp - go to the website here
A project working to implement research findings and promote positive outcomes for children and families. Contains articles on mental health.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
www.rcpch.ac.uk - go to the website here
The professional and educational body for paediatrics.
Royal College of Psychiatrists
www.rcpsych.ac.uk - go to the website here
The professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Information on mental health problems in children and young people, and a list of relevant publications is available on the website.
Sainsbury’s Centre for Mental Health
www.scmh.org.uk - go to the website here
An organisation that carries out research, analysis, training and development to improve practice and influence policy on mental health.
Samaritans
www.samaritans.org - go to the website here
Charity offering advice and support to those with emotional problems and suicidal thoughts. It runs a confidential 24-hour telephone helpline and email service.
SANE
www.sane.org.uk - go to the website here
Charity which works to raise awareness and respect for those with mental health problems, and provide them with information and support. It runs a telephone helpline offering practical information, crisis care and emotional support for those suffering mental health problems.
Together
www.together-uk.org - go to the website here
A charity which provides services to support people with severe and enduring mental health problems. They also work to improve mental health policy and practice.
World Health Organisation
www.who.int/en - go to the website here
YoungMinds
www.youngminds.org.uk - go to the website here
Charity working to improve the mental health of children and young people. It provides information, advice and support to young people, parents and professionals, and campaigns for policies to improve children’s mental health.
YoungMinds has produced a paper which aims to help improve the transition from CAMHS to AMHS: YoungMinds (2006) 'Stressed out and struggling. A call to action: commissioning mental health services for 16-25 year-olds'. London: YoungMinds.