Lancashire Teaching Hospitals has joined up with health care partners across the region to light up green for Children’s Mental Health Week.
It follows an announcement that Health leaders in Lancashire and South Cumbria have been awarded over £10m of investment to improve children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing .
Royal Preston Hospital, which is part of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is taking part in the awareness week to demonstrate the importance of children and young people’s mental health. The Trust provides a wide range of services for neonates, children and young people.
Over the past three years, health and care partners across the region have been working together to develop the THRIVE model of care which looks to prevent poor mental health and wellbeing, as well as supporting young people as soon as they start to experience difficulties.
NHS organisations, local authorities, education providers, the police, and representatives from the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector (VCFSE) have been working with parents, carers and young people to redesign services for children and young people aged 0-19.
Jo Connolly, Children’s Divisional Nursing Director, said: “Lancashire Teaching Hospitals treats and supports many children each year, be it through our inpatient, outpatient or community services, and there has never been a more important time to support children and young people’s mental health.
“It is important to recognise that physical and mental health cannot be separated and we need to understand both in order to provide personalised care. We have been improving our children’s facilities and resources available, providing additional training for staff, listening to feedback and working together with partners to improve pathways.
“We’re proud as a Trust to show our commitment to improving mental health services for children and young people across Lancashire and South Cumbria.”
This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week theme is ‘Growing Together’ and encourages children (and adults) to express individual growth, and how we can come together to help each other grow. To encourage conversation, we have created a colouring template which can be downloaded and printed here and encourage you to share on social media, by tagging @LancsHospitals and using #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek.
Paula Wilson, Head of Charities at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity , said: “Coming into hospital can be a daunting experience for children, especially for those who struggle with a variety of mental health conditions. Our Children’s Appeal aims to alleviate that, to create calm spaces, engaging distractions and provide that ‘natural environment’ that all helps make our hospital’s and outpatient areas a little more comforting for our younger patients at a time when they need it most.”
