New mental health hub for children and young people
The first ever 24-hour mental health crisis hub for children and young people has opened in south-west Wales.
Run by Hywel Dda University Health Board, the Bro Myrddin Wellbeing Hwb is located in Carmarthen and was created via a funding commitment in the 2021 Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh government and Plaid Cymru. Providing tailored mental health provision for children and young people in the right environment when they need it most, the Children and Young People’s Sanctuary service is aimed at preventing distressed children having to face long waits in A&E. It will also prevent the need for acute mental health wards to admit children for short assessments.
“This newly developed 24/7 bespoke service will provide a safe space for children and young people who are in need of crisis support for their mental health, and who would have otherwise found themselves in busy A&E or mental health wards,” said Lynne Neagle, the Welsh government’s Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing. “These services are part of our efforts to transform the way the NHS responds to urgent mental health issues, and this project has seamlessly linked with the recently launched ‘111 press 2’ helpline for urgent mental health support and the conveyance service provided in partnership with St John’s Ambulance.”
Similar mental health hubs for children and young people are being developed in other locations across Wales, with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham), Swansea Bay University Health Board and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and South Powys) all planning to invest in their own facilities.
Why the mental health hub is needed
According to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), three quarters of life-long mental health problems in the UK start before the age of 25 and today’s children and young people are considered to have worse mental health outcomes compared to previous generations. RCPCH research indicates that, of all the UK nations, Wales has the lowest number of psychiatrists and the second lowest number of community mental health nurses and psychologists (6 and 8 per 100,000 population).
The importance of early intervention
Research also shows that early detection and treatment of mental health challenges can reduce their impact over time. As well as psychiatrists and psychologists, those working in mental health nursing jobs play a vital role in preventing the development of mental health problems in children and young people and should be aware of the risk factors.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has published a range of resources to support nurses in learning about children and young people’s mental health, including books, reports and journal articles. Access them here.
