Young people in Cheshire will soon receive enhanced mental health and wellbeing support in identified schools across Cheshire following the announcement of new NHS funding.
As part of NHS England's national trailblazer programme, local mental health provider CWP - in partnership with Cheshire clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East local authorities - has been successful in a bid for additional funding to develop new Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) across the patch.
The programme, led by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), in collaboration with NHS South Cheshire CCG, NHS Vale Royal CCH, NHS West Cheshire CCG, NHS East Cheshire CCG, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council, includes additional funding that will be invested into local mental health provision and aims for Cheshire-wide Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) to be established by 2021.
MHSTs will develop models of early intervention on mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing issues, such as anxiety, behavioural difficulties, as well as providing supporting within identified school settings. The teams will be working with local children and young people's mental health services and be supervised by NHS clinical staff.
Sheena Cumiskey, CWP Chief Executive, said: "I'm delighted that, together with our local partners, we've been able to secure additional funding to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people in our communities.
"We know that 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14, and a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan is embedding mental health support in schools and colleges. It's wonderful to see health and education experts coming together to ensure our young people can receive the right support in the right place at the right time."
Tracey Cole, Executive Director of Strategy and Partnerships, NHS South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Vale Royal CCG said: "We know that there is an increasing demand for the provision of mental health services for children and young across Cheshire, and this additional programme will bring together education and mental health professionals to help ensure that some of our most vulnerable people can access the support they need when they need it most. This programme announcement is fantastic news aligning with our ambitions to work with our Cheshire partners in a more joined-up way."
For further information about the Cheshire-wide Mental Health Support Team programme contact Sheena Wood, Clinical Project Manager - Mental Health Commissioning, via Sheena.Wood3@nhs.net
For more information about CWP visit www.cwp.nhs.uk.