Published by Redbridge Concern for Mental Health

Spotlight on child and adolescent mental health services

A group of Councillors are reviewing local mental health services for children and adolescents and inviting comments from local organisations. The review is a "health check" of local services - with the aim of making sure needs are met in the best possible way within a limited budget. Set up by Redbridge Children's Services Scrutiny Committee, the working group have talked to statutory agencies and school heads and visited Loxford Hall and Brookside.

They are keen to hear from local organisations about their views on services available for child and adolescents with mental health needs and to hear about any work that local organisations are themselves doing to meet these needs.

If you would like to share your views please download and fill in the attached form.

Please send the completed form to Maureen Colledge by 15 December 2008. Telephone: 020 8708 2469 or e-mail: maureen.colledge@redbridge.gov.uk

Green space, psychological restoration, and health inequality

A new study looks at the relationship between health inequality and green space. People with the most access to green space such as parks had lower income-related deaths.

Please note: You will need to register with The Lancet to read the full report. Registration is free and this article is free too! You can read the report here.

Anxiety Care Quiz Night - Thursday 4th December, 7.30pm start

Once again we are asking that you support our Quiz as, like any small charity, funding is an ongoing concern. It is also a fun way of giving support to Anxiety Care!

The date: Thursday 4th December, 7pm for 7.30pm start at The Cauliflower Public House, 556 High Road, Ilford. (Near Seven Kings Station)

Only £5 per person! Call 020 8262 8891 for tickets or available on the night. Max 6 people per table.

Children and young people in mind

This report looks at how CAMHS are meeting the needs of some of the most vulnerable children, with complex and challenging needs to ensure that they are delivered in a more integrated way. It considers how we can deliver better outcomes for children with mental health problems and indentifies practical solutions to how those delivering, managing and commissioning services can address the challenges they face.

Patients from BME groups still more likely to be admitted to a mental health hospital

According to the latest Count me in census, figures continue to show that some black and minority ethnic groups are three or more times more likely than average to be admitted as inpatients in mental health services.

As a result, the report calls for healthcare providers, local authorities and other statutory agencies to work together to prevent and better manage mental illness in black and minority ethnic groups.

Some black and minority ethnic groups are also more likely to be detained on admission and are more likely to be admitted through the criminal justice system.

The report notes issues such as higher rates of mental illness in some ethnic groups, socio-economic factors, living alone and family and social support, as important factors in the different pathways into care and rates of admission and detention of some black and minority ethnic groups.

The report also calls for organisations that commission and provide mental health and learning disability services to make a "renewed and strenuous" effort to improve access to single-sex wards.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded here

Jon Abrams
Web Site Editor
Redbridge Concern for Mental Health
98-100 Ilford Lane
Ilford, Essex, IG1 2LD
Web Site: www.rcmh.org.uk
Email:jon@redbridgeconcern.org
Telephone: 020 8925 2435

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Disclaimer

Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Redbridge Concern for Mental Health unless otherwise specifically stated.