Child and adolescent mental health – a guide for healthcare professionals
June 2006
Strategies for improving care (Northern Ireland)
Following the 'Minding our health' consultation (2000), the 'Promoting mental health strategy and action plan 2003-2008' was published in 2003, with the aims of reducing the incidence and impact of poor mental health and raising awareness of mental and emotional health at public, professional and policy levels. [Go to note 125]. (Read more on mental health promotion here.) The implementation of this was reviewed in 2006 and current gaps in provision were identified. [Go to note 126]. A review of mental health services in relation to social work in 2004 highlighted several good practice initiatives, and made a number of recommendations aimed at raising quality, reducing local variations in practice and promoting greater cooperation between different sectors. [Go to note 127].
A major review of mental health services was launched in 2002 under the auspices of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS). The review of child and adolescent services was published in November 2005, and found that there is a serious deficit in CAMHS provision in Northern Ireland. [Go to note 128]. While there are examples of good practice, the overall quality, consistency and accessibility of services are inadequate, and there has been a severe shortfall in investment in services. It highlights the fact that little appears to have happened since the 1998 policy statement on child and adolescent mental health services, which addressed a number of key policy areas. The report provides a summary of the gaps in current services and suggests specific developments needed for reform and modernisation. It also advocates the importance of prevention and promotion of mental health.
To support the review of CAMHS, a consultation of users and carers was carried out in October 2005. This found that while services were valued, users and carers felt that there were huge gaps, and expressed dissatisfaction with some areas of provision. Major areas for development were highlighted. These included increasing capacity at all levels of service provision; developing collaborative working between professionals; establishing structures for user participation in planning and monitoring CAMHS; and increasing public knowledge of childhood mental health. [Go to note 129].
Recommendation:
- CAMHS in Northern Ireland must be reformed and modernised, in line with current policy recommendations, to address gaps in provision.