Boost For Teen Mental Health

November 15th 2007

Some £31 million is to be pumped into children’s psychiatric facilities to help get children off adult wards, it was announced yesterday.

Some 17 projects will benefit from the funding, aimed at meeting a government pledge to ensure that teenagers are not treated alongside adults.

The government has promised to ensure no children under 16 are treated in adult wards within a year - and also to reduce the number of under 19 year olds.

The cash will pay for 59 new beds in eight projects and improved facilities for another 97 beds.

John Archer, chief executive of Pennine Care NHS Trust, one of the beneficiaries, said: "We have known for a number of years that adult psychiatric wards were not appropriate places to care for young people, and recent reports have highlighted how unsuitable general adult psychiatric wards are for this age group.

"I am delighted that we are finally going to be able to provide expert care to young people in an appropriate environment.

"There is an increasing prevalence of mental illness in older adolescents. Adolescence can be a difficult period of transition from childhood to adulthood for most young people, but particularly for those with mental health needs."

Health minister Ivan Lewis said: "Vulnerable children deserve age appropriate services that recognise, irrespective of their condition, that they are first and foremost children."

Barbara Herts, chief executive of the campaign group Young Minds said: "We welcome this investment.

"This money will ensure better availability of mental health services to all children and young people no matter where they live in England, ensuring that children and young people are no longer inappropriately treated in adult wards."

Some £31 million is to be pumped into children’s psychiatric facilities to help get children off adult wards, it was announced yesterday.

Some 17 projects will benefit from the funding, aimed at meeting a government pledge to ensure that teenagers are not treated alongside adults.

The government has promised to ensure no children under 16 are treated in adult wards within a year - and also to reduce the number of under 19 year olds.

The cash will pay for 59 new beds in eight projects and improved facilities for another 97 beds.

John Archer, chief executive of Pennine Care NHS Trust, one of the beneficiaries, said: "We have known for a number of years that adult psychiatric wards were not appropriate places to care for young people, and recent reports have highlighted how unsuitable general adult psychiatric wards are for this age group.

"I am delighted that we are finally going to be able to provide expert care to young people in an appropriate environment.

"There is an increasing prevalence of mental illness in older adolescents. Adolescence can be a difficult period of transition from childhood to adulthood for most young people, but particularly for those with mental health needs."

Health minister Ivan Lewis said: "Vulnerable children deserve age appropriate services that recognise, irrespective of their condition, that they are first and foremost children."

Barbara Herts, chief executive of the campaign group Young Minds said: "We welcome this investment.

"This money will ensure better availability of mental health services to all children and young people no matter where they live in England, ensuring that children and young people are no longer inappropriately treated in adult wards."

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