NHS North Yorkshire CCG and North Yorkshire County Council have launched a new pool of resources developed with partners to help children and young people and their parents, carers and professionals access mental health support in North Yorkshire.
The new suite of resources has been developed in partnership with professionals, children and young people ahead of Safeguarding Week (20-24 June) to ensure young people across North Yorkshire are aware of support available and can access the right support at the right time.
North Yorkshire County Councillor Janet Sanderson, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “Provision for children and young people’s mental health has increased across North Yorkshire which is to be celebrated but we also know that some professionals and young people or their families and carers can find it hard to access the right support.
“Together with our partners, we are launching new resources to navigate services and help safeguard children and young people’s mental health.
“A young person’s guide to mental health support has also been created and designed by young people across North Yorkshire which helps find the right support, whether it be finding out more information, talking to someone or accessing more specialised support.”
New resources also include a Mini Marketplace as well as social and emotional mental health guidance to support professionals, parents and carers working with children and young people in finding the most appropriate mental health support based on their needs.
Lorna Galdas, Commissioning Manager for the North Yorkshire Children and Young People Commissioning team at the CCG, said: “Safeguarding Week has provided a platform for us to ensure that our children and young people are protecting and managing their mental and emotional wellbeing.
“We have created these resources to help young people in North Yorkshire who are struggling to know where to go for mental health support, access mental health services without needing a GP referral.
“These resources can also provide support for parents, carers and professionals who looking for signposting materials.
“To access these materials, please use our mental health signposting website, The Go-To – https://thegoto.org.uk/, the website also hosts a range of advice and support to help you with your emotional wellbeing.”
Lisa Gale, Assistant Director Operations (North) at Compass Phoenix said: “It can sometimes seem hard for young people to find the right support for their mental health.
“Service providers and partners across North Yorkshire have worked together to create these resources in order to raise awareness amongst young people, parents, carers and professionals of what support is out there to help ensure that children and young people access the right support, at the right time.”
These resources will also support parents and carers to find the right mental health support for their child and include a digital poster, Instagram graphic and a leaflet version accessible within schools across North Yorkshire.
