Youthful Minds Accessable Website.
Welcome to Youthful Minds a drop in centre for 16 to 25 year old based in Stockport.
YOUTHFUL MINDS, 25 Covent Garden , Middle Hillgate, Stockport, SK1 3AX. Tel : 0161 477 159 8. Fax: 0161 477 1598. E mail: contact@youthfulminds.org .
Online help when you are in crisis.
Some of these sites will let you speak in real time to someone the others may reply to e mails or direct you to relevant information…… Others will tell you about free help lines. We believe you will find some thing for you ……and if you are looking for help for someone else many of these sites and those on our links page should get you started.
http://www.connexions-direct.com - support
www.samaritans.org/ - support
www.childline.org.uk - support
www.kidscape.org.uk - support
www.nch.org.uk - support
www.nspcc.org.uk - support
www.suicide-helplines.org Website includes comprehensive directory of emotional first aid helplines.
www.adfam.org.uk Adfam is a national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol and is a leading agency in substance related family work. They provide a range of publications and resources for families about substances and criminal justice including an online message board and a database of local support groups
www.bullying.co.uk a UK charity helping parents and pupils deal with school bullying
www.depressionalliance.org Offers help to people with depression, run by sufferers themselves. Website includes symptoms of depression, treatments for depression, and local groups.
www.divorceaid.co.uk If you or someone close to you is going through divorce or separation, we hope to guide you through the emotional and legal journey as well as providing assistance about finances and children. Time is a healer; spend some time with us. From distress to recovery, you are not alone and it will get better.
www.farminghelp.org.uk The Farming Help partnership was publicises the sources of support and help that are available to farming people experiencing stress.
www.llgs.org.uk Find your local branch of the switchboard, a voluntary organisation aiming to provide a 24 hour information, support and referral service for lesbians and gay men.
www.nightline.ac.uk National organisation of NightLine student helplines in Universities across the UK.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk NHS Direct is a new 24 hour nurse led telephone advice and information service and is part of the National Health Service.
www.sane.org.uk Saneline is a national mental health helpline providing information and support for people with mental health problems and those who support them. 0845 767 8000 12pm-2am.
www.mind.org.uk Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, and works for a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.
www.rethink.org Rethink is a campaigning membership charity involving people with severe mental illness and carers, with a network of mutual support groups around the country. Rethink is also the largest voluntary service provider in mental health, helping 7500 people each day.
Information for young people about Youthful Minds.
Panicky, Anxious, No one to talk to?, Confidence crisis?, Depressed, Need to talk?, Need to be with others? Ring 0161 477 1598 or just drop in to a session.
You are welcome to bring a friend, parent or carer for your first visit . We know how difficult going to a new place can be.
Basically you can sit, chat, have a brew, play pool, go on tinternet, get involved with planned group activities (if you want) talk to a youth worker, go on trips out to bowling , pool , pub or other places and make friends ..have a laugh.
Apart from the obvious rules you would expect, there is only one main rule and that is every body treats each other with respect so we can all enjoy a safe an comfortable atmosphere.
Why we are here ?.
Youthful Minds Project was set up because there needs to be a place where individuals who are experiencing some form of, mental distress, worry, loneliness, isolation or boredom or who have been ill in some way can meet other individuals experiencing similar difficulties.
At Youthful minds you will be treated as yourself made to feel welcome and if you want given a bit of support in building up confidence and coming to terms with things as they are or have been.
There is a lot of prejudice in society about mental health issues and illness which is the last thing any one needs. Youthful Minds is also about challenging these negative ideas and encourages members to think positively about themselves.
Information and advice.
We have a wide range of information about housing, benefits, employment and education. If you have any difficulties or queries in any of these areas or any other we my be able to help you and if we cant we know someone who can and who will deal with you in a respectful manner
Confidential listening.
The staff of the project are available for you to request some time to talk in private with them about any thing at all. Any thing said will be treated and kept in strict confidence unless of course you tell us that you or somebody under 17 is in danger or at serious risk. We will explain this in more detail to you at the time.
We are not a counselling service, but if you feel this is what you may need we are able to refer you to a young persons counselling service.
Advocacy.
You may be involved with other services i.e. health social services criminal justice system and not feel you are being treated right or not understand what is happening to you. After talking it through with you we may be able to support you in some way. We would never make decisions for you or speak on you behalf without your full informed consent.
Other Youth Service Activities.
The project is part of Stockport Youth Service and is in contact with many other youth projects as well as other interest groups. Women's groups, theatre groups, Gay and lesbian groups, outdoor activities groups, carers groups, you name it, there probably is one !
Ground Rules.
Information for Youth Workers about the 16 to 25 drop in centre.
The project operates on a part-time basis opening two evenings a week.
The project is managed by Stockport Youth Service, who provide a generic social education service for all young people in Stockport.
The project is overseen by a multi agency steering group chaired by the Youth Service and includes reps from the Health Authority, Social Services Department, Connexions, Stockport College Student Support Service, the Educational Psychology Service, the Police, Young Peoples Drug Project, a project users rep, and a representative from the voluntary sector mental health.
The guiding principles of the project, as with all youth work, is to provide experiences, which are educational, empowering, participative, and challenge discrimination and oppressive behaviour in all its forms.
These aims closely match the criteria for the delivery of effective mental health promotion.
The project, as part of SMBC Education Service is working to Transforming Youth Work standards and is inspected by OFSTED.
Youthful Minds is funded on a 50/50 basis by mainstream monies from Stockport Youth Service and Stockport NHS Primary Care Trust.
Working Principles.
Tips to help you relax.
Attitudes and opinion.
In a recent MORI survey, 23% of respondents said that, given the necessary resources (time, money or support) mental health was an issue they would like to do more about in 2001 18
Contrary to public opinion, and despite a lot of sensational media coverage, the proportion of murders committed by people with mental health problems has in fact fallen steadily over the last fifty years.
Discrimination.
Only about 13% of people with mental health problems are in employment, compared with approximately one third of all people with long-term health problems. 20
In a 1996 survey of people with mental health problems: 7
34% said they had been dismissed or forced to resign from jobs
69% had been put off applying for jobs because of fear of discrimination
47% had been abused or harassed in public, and 14% had been physically attacked
25% had been turned down by insurance or finance companies
45% thought that discrimination had increased in the last 5 years
25% said they felt afraid of attack in their own homes
21% said they had been attacked or harassed by neighbours
26% had been forced to move because of harassment
In a recent survey of people with mental health problems, 73% of respondents felt that media coverage of mental health issues over the last three years had been unfair, unbalanced, or very negative. 21
Asian and African Caribbean people are less likely than people of white origin to have their mental health problems identified by their GP. 22
People with mental health problems have the highest rate of unemployment among people with disabilities. 23
In a 1996 survey of people with mental health problems, 39% said they had been denied a job; 16% had been threatened with dismissal; 15% had been denied promotion. 7
In a 1998 survey, 99% of mental health workers said that they believed discrimination could have a significant impact on mental health. 60% of them had worked with clients with long-term emotional problems resulting from discrimination 24
The total cost of mental health problems in England has been estimated at £32 billion - half as much again as the entire budget for defence. 25
The cost of providing treatment for 'mental illness' is an estimated £4.2 billion - 10% of total NHS expenditure.
Young People.
Suicide is the second most common cause of death among people under 35. 29
It's estimated that suicide attempts by young men have risen by over 170% since 1985. 30
Suicide accounts for one in five of all deaths by young people. 31
Between 1st April 1999 and 31st March 2000, calls to the Young Minds Parents' Information Service helpline increased by 56%.
Around 19,000 young people are admitted to hospital for deliberate self-harm each year.
Facts on Mental Health.
One in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year.
Around a quarter of all the drugs prescribed by the NHS are for mental health problems. 2
Prescriptions for anti-depressants in England rose by over 100% between 1990 and 1995. 3
85% of the general public think that people with mental ill health have been the subject of discrimination for too long. 90% agree that we need to adopt a far more tolerant attitude towards people with mental ill health. 4
In 1996, almost half of national press coverage linked mental illness to violence and criminality.
The public are far more at risk from young men under the influence of alcohol than they are from people with a mental health problem.
In a survey by Mind, 60% of mental health service users felt that media coverage was to blame for the discrimination they experienced.
In a survey by The Mental Health Foundation, 47% of people with mental health problems said that they had experienced discrimination at work. 8
Stress-related absences account for half of all sicknesses from work. 9
Evidence suggests that 1 in 4 people with 'mental illness' have not consulted a professional about their mental health. 10
Prevalence of mental health problems
Official figures suggest that 20% of women and 14% of men in England have some form of 'mental illness. 11
Around one in ten children between the ages of 5 and 15 in the UK are experiencing mental health problems serious enough to require professional help. 12
By 2020, depression will be second only to chronic heart disease as an international health burden (in terms of cause of death, disability, incapacity to work and the toll on medical resources).
It's estimated that around one third of all GP consultations are the result of psychological and social problems. 14
Over 4,000 people take their own lives each year - around one person every 90 minutes. 15
Attempted suicide has increased by 50% since 1990. 15
An estimated 10-20% of GPs' time is thought to be taken up with mental health related problems 16- and the figure is thought to be rising. 17
Employment.
Work-related stress is the biggest occupational health problem in the UK, after back problems. 26
Government figures indicate that 3 in 10 employees will have a mental health problem in any one year, mainly depressive and anxiety disorders. 23
An estimated half a million UK employees believe they are experiencing work- related stress, including anxiety and depression. 26
Over 91 million working days are lost due to mental ill health each year. 27
In a survey of over 800 companies carried out by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), only I in 10 had an official policy on mental health - even though 98% of respondents thought that the mental health of employees should be a company concern. 28
We all learn from each other.
The project is run by 4 Youth Workers employed by Stockport Youth Service and is supported by 2 volunteers.
We all work to youth work principles and the main features of youth work are that:
The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
Produces innovative and far-reaching health information campaigns for both the public and health professionals. www.doctorpatient.org.uk
Telephone Helplines Association
The Telephone Helplines Association is a registered charity which works with helplines to ensure that callers receive the highest quality response. www.helplines.org.uk
Centre for Suicide Research
Based in the University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, the research group is investigating the causes, treatment and prevention of suicidal behaviour.
http://cebmh.warne.ox.ac.uk/csr/
Centre for Suicide Prevention
Based at the University of Manchester, this centre brings together a number of research projects in the field of suicidal behaviour www.suicideprevention.man.ac.uk/
The Base (Young People's Lesbian & Gay Project:) 0161 477 4096
BBC
CALM - Young Men's Mental Health Helpline : 0800 58 58 58
Central Youth : 0161 480 9600
Citizens Advice Bureau : 0870 120 4040
Connexions : 0161 475 7700
CRUSE Bereavement Careline: 0808 808 1677
Kooth.com Young Person's Online Info, Advice and Counselling Service
National Institute for Mental Health:
PALS - Patient Advisory & Liaison Service: 0161 429 7010
Relate and Relation - Relationship Counselling: 0161 442 2443
Samaritans: 08457 909090
Signpost Infoline - Health & Social Care: 0161 456 0096
Stockport College Student Services: 0161 958 3144
Stockport Mind: Information Help Line: 0161 429 0893/480 7393
Stockport Mental Health Helpline: 0161 474 0444
Stockport Metropolitan borough council: 0161 474 0444
Stockport NHS Primary Care Trust:
Stockport Parenting Support Project: 0161 419 4879
Stockport PCT: 0161 426 5000
Stockport Youth Service: 0161 477 4096
Young Minds: 0800 018 2138
YOUTHFUL MINDS (and SOUND MINDS) 0161 477 1598
Young People's Drug and Alcohol Project : 0161 480 5939
Sound Minds a drop in centre for 13 to 16 year olds.
This project is part of Stockport Youth Service and will provide small group work support for young people age 13-16 that are experiencing mental health difficulties within the remit of Community CAMHS (Tier 1and 2).
The group work will be built on Youth Work principals that essentially promote inclusion, empowerment and challenge. Key interpersonal and coping skills will be developed utilising the positive context of peer support within the group. Participants will benefit from the range of resources available within the Youth Service that include outdoor education instructors, multi media and music studio facilities .
Group work sessions will be delivered in blocks approximately half a term long and the groups will be formed on the basis of young peoples needs complementing each other and will be delivered in a range of settings and by, in cases, staff from across the Community CAHMS projects.
What do we aim to do ?
How do we do it ?
What are the benifits for young people ?.
How do young people get involved ?.
Young people have to be referred by staff from a recognised agency.The young person will be able to ultimately choose whether they wish to be involved in the project . The referrer needs to complete a relevant referral form and send this back to the address supplied.
The referral form is then assess by the community CAMHS assessment team Who if appropriate refer to the Sound Minds Project.
The referee and young person is then contacted to arrange an informal meeting to discuss the terms of participation and set personal objective and agree starting dates. Young person then starts an 8 week group work program.
How long do young people participate ?
Young people attend the project once a week for a period of 8 weeks.
What next ?
Defining Mental Health disorders.
Providing a definition of mental health for a range of “social agencies”is not straight forward.
The main guiding document for the definition below and much of our Project's direction has been informed by “Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - "Together We Stand”. This is a key document that points towards a holistic, seamless, multi-agency Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
What is good mental health ?
Components of good mental health include the following capacities and abilities:
Defining Mental Heath Problems.
Defining Mental Heath ProblemsMental health problems cause concerns and distress to those how have them and their carers. A mental health problem may be defined in the broad terms as one that it is
"a definable and recognisable set of symptoms or behaviours associated in most cases with distress and with interference with personal functions."
The table below is a summary of the most common mental health disorders in children and young people. It is intended to be a guide only and not any sort of diagnostic tool.
| Emotional Disorders | e.g. phobias, anxiety states and depression. These may manifest in physical symptoms such as chronic headaches or abdominal pain |
| Conduct Disorders | e.g. stealing, defiance, fire setting, aggression and anti social behaviour. |
| Hyperkinetic Disorders | e.g. disturbance of activity and attention |
| Development Disorders | e.g. delay in acquiring certain skills such as speech, social ability or bladder control |
| Eating Disorders | e.g. pre-school eating problems, anorexia, bulimia |
| Habit Disorders | e.g. tics, sleeping problems and soling |
| Post traumatic syndromes | e.g. post traumatic stress disorders |
| Somatic disorders | e.g. chronic fatigue syndrome |
| Psychotic Disorders | e.g. schizophrenia, manic depressive disorder or drug induced psychoses |
1 NHS Health Advisory Service
Eligibility.
Sound Minds is a partnership within the wider “Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)” initiative. The other partners in this new and innovative project are: Jigsaw, part of the Education Service, the Social Services Looked-after Children Project and staff from the core CAMHS, based within Stepping Hill Hospital. This new partnership is aiming to provide a joined up seamless service between different agencies located within the community for those young people who need intervention and support at Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels.
The Sound Minds project is part of the Stockport Youth Service Youthful Minds Project and aims to provide small group work support for young people age 13-16 experiencing mental health difficulties within Tier 1and 2 levels.
The group work will be built on Youth Work principles that essentially promote inclusion, empowerment and challenge. Youth work aims to enable young people to develop skills that will improve their full potential as an individual within their community and wider society.
The group work aims to develop key interpersonal and coping skills utilising the positive context of peer support and willing participation within the group. Participants will benefit from the range of resources available within the Youth Service that include outdoor education instructors, multi-media and music studio facilities.
The sessions will be delivered in blocks approximately half a term long and the groups will be formed on the basis of young people's needs
Who may access the project and how ?.
Any young person living in the Stockport area, aged 13-16 who is experiencing mental health difficulties that are having an impact on their emotional, and social well being.
All potential participants need to be referred by a relevant professionals working with the young person.
Referrals will be assessed by a panel of representatives from each of the participating agencies. This panel will meet once a fortnight, a list of dates for the panel and deadlines for each meeting is included in this pack and will be available shortly on the website.
The assessment panel will notify the young person and referrer as to the part of the project that best meets the needs of the young person. The Sound Minds Project will allocate a place to the young person on the next available group. Sound Minds will open in early April 04.
Who will community CAHMS accept referrals from ?.
Community CAMHS panel will accept referrals from all professionals working with young people.
standard referral form is available and will shortly be available on line. There is a “Help Line “ open Monday-Friday; for potential referrers to talk to a member of the team about referral issues on 0161 491 0440.
Refferal we will consider.
All referrals to Sound Minds will come through the Community CAMHS referral panel, who will accept referrals that fall within the outlined descriptions of mental health problems below, these are broadly Tier 1 and 2 of the CAMHS Structure
Referrals we will not consider.
What and Who is CAHMS ?.
Child and Adolescent Health Services (CAMHS) is a term used to describe the range of services and professionals working in the field of child and adolescent mental health. The way in which these services and professionals are organised can be confusing for both professionals and parents who require help and support; how to access the service and who to approach is often unclear.
In most areas, CAMHS have been organised into 4 tiers and help should be available at each level. Most children and young people with mental health problems will be seen at tiers 1 and 2.
Tier 1.
This is a primary level of service and includes interventions by:
CAMHS at this level are provided by non-specialists who are able to:
Tier 2.
A level of service provided by specialist child and adolescent mental health service professionals who include
These CAMHS professionals should be able to:
Tier 3.
This is a specialist service for more severe, complex or persistent disorders. This is usually a multi-disciplinary team or service, working in an outpatient setting. The staff include
This is a specialist service for more severe, complex or persistent disorders. This is usually a multi-disciplinary team or service, working in an outpatient setting. The staff include
The core CAMHS at this level should be able to:
Tier 4
This tier comprises infrequently used but essential services such as day units, in patient units and highly specialised out patient teams for children and young people who are severely mentally ill or at suicidal risk. The most specialist CAMHS will provide for a district or region rather than a locality. Services may include:
Reproduced from: Mental Health in Stockport Secondary Schools a resource for teachers and school staff Avaiable on:
http://www.schoolmentalhealth.org.uk/