Young Healthwatch hosted a research day on Wednesday 21 January on Mental Health Education for Children and Young People in Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes (BLMK).
The young volunteers led the day and ran workshops, which included:
- What is mental health research?
Asking the question – why is it important to research mental health? - Mental Health Services Focus Group
Asking the question – what are the biggest challenges facing mental health services for young people? - What is Neurodiversity research?
Asking the question – what do we mean by Neurodiversity? - Neurodiversity services (e.g. support for and diagnosis of ADHD, Autism) Focus Group
Asking the question – how can we better support young people with Neurodiversity in healthcare and social care settings? - Child and Adult Mental Health and SEND Services Open Feedback Session
These workshops evoked a great deal of discussion with the health care professionals in the audience, including:
- Senior Commissioners for Children & Young People’s Services from Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes (BLMK) Integrated Care Board (ICB)
- Central Bedfordshire Council, Academy & Partnerships Development
- Central Bedfordshire Council Youth Parliament
- Cambridgeshire Children’s Services and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
- East London NHS Foundation Trust CAMHS
- Link to Change – a charity dedicated to creating a world where everyone can live free from exploitation, supporting victims and young people at risk
- University of Hertfordshire Research Fellow – mental health and neurodiversity specialist
The outcomes of this research day, together with the feedback received from our surveys, will be written up into a report and shared with these organisations in due course.
The surveys are open until 1st March 2025.
Survey for Professionals and Parents/Carers:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Mental_Health_Neurodiversity_Professional_Parent_Carer/
Survey for Young People:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Mental_Health_Neurodiversity_Young_People/
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