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Miles

Aug 08
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08/08/22 – A New Start for Children’s Mental Health or ‘Business As Usual’?

By News

On 5th September, the Conservative Party will announce the name of its new Leader and our new Prime Minister. This will be just a few weeks after the publication of the fourth report by The Commission on Young Lives ‘Heads up: Rethinking mental health services for vulnerable young people.’

The Commission, Chaired by former Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield,  and co-authored with the Centre for Mental Health says that Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services is:

‘Still losing the battle against rocketing demand for help and failing to meet the needs of thousands of children in crisis.’ 

Main findings include:

  • The pandemic has been a disaster for the mental health of many children. One in six aged 6-16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in July 2021 with a 47% increase in the number of new emergency referrals to crisis care teams in under 18 year olds between December 2019 – April 2021
  • By the end of April 2022, 388,887 people were in contact with children and young peoples’ mental health services and 352,866 new referrals were received.
  • In 202-2021, just 23% of children referred to services started treatment within the 4 week waiting target
  • There will be mental health teams in only a third of all schools leaving two thirds of children in schools without help. There are no immediate plans or funds to extend the number further.

Meanwhile, the draft Mental Health Bill; a reform of the 1983 legislation is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny and in its present state, represents a huge missed opportunity for children and young people.

The Government Bill as it stands,  fails to provide statutory protection for children apart from those in detained or clinical circumstances and no early intervention or preventative provision in the community or at school is statutory. Indeed, as The Commission for Young Lives point out, mental health teams are only available in about a third of schools with no plans to increase their number. There has been no statutory provision for the health and welfare of children and young people since 2010 and The Commission state:

‘Too many children are only receiving help at crisis point. Early prevention services are under funded and are not reaching most children, particularly the most vulnerable or marginalised.’

Meanwhile, with barely a month to go, the two candidates for Conservative Party Leader and Prime Minister as chosen by around 160,000 Conservative Party members have said nothing whatsoever about what is the biggest crisis facing our children and young people in the UK for successive generations.

The name of the new Prime Minister will be announced on 5th September.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT For Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to break that silence.

Helen Clark: Director of The Child Mental Health Charter Campaign.

Help us to help children today.

Jul 15
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15/07/22 – EDM brought to the House of Commons by Tony Lloyd MP

By News

Tony Lloyd MP has tabled an Early Day Motion called “The Draft Mental Health Bill”. Mental health across the UK has hit an all time crisis and the government must now move swiftly to deliver the support needed to improve access to services

Motion text

That this House welcomes the publication of the Draft Mental Health Bill; applauds the aim to ensure appropriate care for people with serious mental illness within the criminal justice system, better meet the needs of people with a learning disability to include those with autistic spectrum condition, give people greater control over their treatment, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are disproportionately detained under the provisions of the current Act and to provide funding to enable local communities to explore alternatives to hospital admission for people experiencing a mental health crisis; further understands that despite the government’s public call for evidence to support the development of a new cross-government 10-year plan for mental health, including supporting children and young people’s mental health, there are no current plans to bring forward specific legislative proposals to require early intervention and preventative measures to help address children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing issues at the first possible opportunity; and urges the government to amend the Draft Mental Health Bill in accordance or give a commitment to introduce a stand-alone Bill to provide a Framework for the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Children and Young People to include fully-funded early intervention and preventive strategies within schools and in the community.

Helen Clark: director, The Child Mental Health Charter Campaign

“The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has agreed to step down today but that is no reason for a vital and historic reform of the 1983 Mental Health Act to be delayed. Indeed, it should be a top priority for a new Conservative Prime Minster.

“This Early Day Motion,  tabled  by Tony Lloyd MP mentions that despite the many good things in the intended Reform Bill, the needs of children and young people who are in desperate need of essential preventative and early intervention care is just not there.  Play Therapy UK (PTUK) now call upon MPs from all parties to back this Motion  and press for amendments to the current Bill to allow for it – or to campaign with us for a new ‘Stand Alone’ Bill to place children and young people at the heart of  a new mental health legislative strategy.’

“We do hope that readers of ‘Nursery Management Today’ will ask their own MP to sign this important Motion in the interests of all children and young people.”

Sign the Charter
Jul 08
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08/07/22 – Draft Mental Health Bill: EDM (Early Day Motion) 251

By News

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has agreed to step down but that is no reason whatsoever for the vital and historic reform of the 1983 Mental Health Act to be delayed or abandoned. Indeed it should and must be a top priority for a new Prime Minister and Government.

This Early Day Motion tabled by Tony Lloyd MP states that despite the many good things in the intended Reform Bill, measures for children and young people who are in desperate need of essential preventative and early intervention care is not just there. Play Therapy UK (PTUK) now call upon MPs from all parties to back this Motion and press for amendments to the current Bill to allow for it – or to campaign with us for a radical ‘Stand Alone’ Bill to place children and young people at the heart of new mental health legislation.

Today, we need everyone who works with children in a therapeutic capacity or cares for them in a domestic sense, to contact their local MP and ask them to sign the Motion.’

Help the Child Mental Health Charter to help children today.

Helen Clark: Director, The Child Mental Health Charter Campaign

Sign Charter on CMHC
May 16
Love1

16/05/22 – Transforming Children And Young People’s Mental Health Implementation Programme

By News

The Government announced its intention to introduce a draft Bill to reform the 1983 Mental Health Act in the recent Queen’s Speech list of Bills.

Unfortunately the draft Bill (as we understand it) will have none of the children and young people-centred ‘early intervention’ measures that characterised the 2017 Green Paper: Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health. It is instead, a response to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 by Sir Simon Wessely (a former President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists). There are some reforms to the ways in which people are treated in restraint and also improved provision for people with autistic spectrum conditions.  However, an opportunity to enact legislation to protect children and young people when they first begin to manifest signs of becoming unwell has been missed.

This month, the Government released a paper entitled: Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Implementation Programme.

Introducing the paper, the Government describes the contents as a ‘progress report’ on the introduction of ‘three core proposals’:

  • New Mental Health Support Teams (Musts) in 20-25% of the country by 2023/23 that provide support and extra capacity for Early Intervention and help for mild to moderate mental health issues
  • Training for senior mental health leads to implement an effective whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges
  • Pilots for a four-week waiting time for children and young peoples’ mental health services

The DFE also announced further funding following Covid-19 via the Wellbeing for Education Return/Recovery programmes.

The Child Mental Health Charter Campaign is interested to know your views on the Implementation document. What has your experience of extra help or funding been?  None of the measures are legally binding.

Send your own response to: helenrclark@ntlworld.com

Help the Child Mental Health Charter Campaign to help children today.

Mar 10
Love0

How Are We Supporting Ukraine?

By News

PTUK and PTI have been horrified by the recent events unfolding in Ukraine which are causing immense trauma to the people living there, in particular, children.

Chief Executive of PTI Poland Nina Ambroziak has been instrumental in organising frontline support for the children and families fleeing the conflict in the Ukraine into Poland; over the coming days we will be releasing more news about all the amazing work she is undertaking, including the formation of a new foundation specifically created in response to the ongoing crisis.

One of the biggest challenges that Nina is facing, is that due to the high levels of trauma these children have experienced, there are currently not enough fully qualified Play Therapists in Poland to provide therapeutic play on the scale required. To help mitigate this, PTI will be making a significant contribution towards Diploma in Play Therapy training for a cohort of 15 PTI Poland Certified Practitioners in order that they can gain the knowledge and skills needed to support as many of the affected children as possible.

In addition, PTUK, on behalf of PTI, are going to be offering the following support:

1. The Clinical Management Team will be delivering a new workshop, the proceeds of which will be used for the purchase of the Play Kits PTI Poland are organising to be given to refugee children

2.Free weekly supervision for Chief Executive of PTI Poland, to ensure her own wellbeing is maintain during this extremely demanding time

3.Creation of suitable, illustrated therapeutic stories translated into Ukrainian

Keep an eye on our websites and social media for more news on the support we will be providing…

If you are a Ukrainian, Polish or Russian speaker and would be willing to get involved with some of the above projects in support of PTI Poland then we’d love to hear from you – please contact our Clinical Team on clinical@ptukorg.com

Feb 08
Love0

CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK: 7-13th FEBRUARY

By News

Children’s Mental Health Week 2022 comes at a time when the mental health of children and young people is discussed as never before. It will be marked today by an Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons and I hope that MPs from all political parties will attend and represent their constituents by standing up for children in their constituencies.

Those of us who have long campaigned to raise the profile of an issue that is proving to be the true legacy of Covid 19 (following years of neglect and under-investment) will welcome this.

We welcome today the fact that these matters will be raised by those who represent us and have the power to make change happen.

BUT WILL IT?

The omens are poor. In 2017, a Green Paper on the mental health of children and young people seemed to suggest that future legislation would, at last place their needs at the heart of new legislation. Yet the subsequent White Paper was disappointing. Apart from some measures to improve the lot of those detained for their safety, and to improve outcomes for those with autism, it was as if the Green Paper had not happened. The Green Paper was, in effect ‘ghosted’ by the Government and its proposals ignored.

Following expressions of widespread public concern, Ministers now mention children’s mental health again. Schools can access funding from a pot designed to help their pupils catch up academically; mental health support teams have been announced with their number promised to increase; damage from online abuse and country lines exploitation has been exposed and condemned.

THE GREEN PAPER HAS ‘COME IN FROM THE COLD’ OR HAS IT?

Nothing has changed New measures are ‘pilot’ schemes; none enshrined in law. But this year the Government will introduce the first reform of the Mental Health Act since 1983. There is still chance for the new legislation to put the mental health of children and young people at its heart – if we act now.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Please write to your MP. Ask them to write to The Secretary of State for Health, Sajid Javid and the Prime Minster, Boris Johnson. Tell them that a new Mental Health Act must place the needs of children and young people at its heart; supported by the Six Principles in the Child Mental Health Charter.

HELP THE CHILD MENTAL HEALTH CHARTER CAMPAIGN TO HELP CHILDREN TODAY

Sign the Charter

Helen Clark: Director, Child Mental Health Charter Campaign

Jan 14
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Demystifying therapy: how play therapy can shape children’s mental health

By Uncategorized

Taken from NMT Magazine – Read the original article here.

Play therapy is used to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. NMT speaks to Sophia O’Neill, course director, postgraduate MA in Practice-Based Play Therapy who demystifies the process of play therapy

Play therapy is a form of therapy primarily geared towards children, however, it can benefit other age groups as well.

In this environment, a therapist encourages a child to explore life events and emotions that may influence current circumstances, at a pace of the child’s choosing, through play.

The use of play therapy has become more recognised in recent years but there have been a few challenges along the way.

Earlier this year, in an episode of Coronation Street, the character Evelyn Plummer, played by Dame Maureen Lipman commented on her granddaughter saying, “She’s had play therapy, touchy, feely rubbish, new age, but she needs something long-term. Teach her right from wrong”.

NMT sits down with Sophia O’Neill to get her viewpoint.
What was your reaction to Coronation Street and how was play therapy misrepresented?

‘We had a lot of responses on the Play Therapy Facebook page so my own response took into account that of our registrants. I felt so disappointed on behalf of the whole profession. Especially at a time like this when we are trying very hard to bring attention to the importance of children’s mental health.

‘Alongside that, early intervention is so important and there is a timeframe we have where it is most effective. And then this comment came along and what is really worrying, which is common on TV, is that it was superficially convincing.

‘If viewers follow the characters viewpoint then it is worrying that these comments can make an impact. On one hand, I was disappointed by the fact that a famous programme could be pointing across this argument that was so detrimental towards play therapy. However, I did also see the opportunity in this to have a conversation about it and try to reach more people. I thought this could be a good time to discuss stigma around mental health and different opinions that exist about how we help people and at what age that should happen. Our response matched that two-fold reaction.

‘I also began writing opinion pieces about how this can help us talk more amongst our community, not just the therapeutic community. We are extremely qualified and experienced, but it is so important to involve the community so that they can be included in the treatment.’

Have you had conversations within your forum on this issue?

‘I have spoken with other therapists about this comment and the conversations that surround it. However, it is also important to get the message out to as many people as possible. Over the years I have noticed that there is hardly ever a family that hasn’t needed some sort of help at some point, even just a little bit of help. Therefore, I try to talk about therapy and reduce it to its mechanics. I don’t think it’s helpful to think of it as other-worldly and something that can only be properly discussed amongst therapists.

‘Conversations are the most important thing. Many issues can be resolved at home but sometimes you need more help than that with someone who has the right training. That’s where we come in to be able to identify patterns and behaviours and navigate a path towards growth.

“The families or carers need and deserve an explanation as to what play therapy is and how it can help the child. Trying to explain it to them from their perspective can demystify any complexities they thought were involved. As therapists we are trained to feel and understand a variety of different behaviours so we can create a safe and open environment where talking and communication follows.

‘We very much follow the child and observe their actions and reactions. There is a lot of fear about confidentiality but there’s really nothing scary about it. Confidentiality explains that in a therapeutic setting the client must have the freedom to express themselves without judgement and fear of censorship or offending anyone. In that environment of trust, children and adults can be free to interact how they need.

‘However, parents shouldn’t be left in the dark and so I often explain that it would make little sense to them if they received a script of the session, but they can be told how they can help and what has worked in a session. Having a place to be confident and free is critical but if I notice patterns and areas to work on then I can share those so that they can be replicated at home.’

So can you explain for those who are unsure what play therapy is?

‘Play therapy is a type of therapy that is most useful to younger children. The reason behind that is that in the therapy room we have a toolkit of play and art materials and a place fit for exploratory play. Children can struggle how to recognise what they are feeling so play therapy offers a safe outlet.

‘If a child can’t recognise their own emotions, then it becomes incredibly difficult for them to communicate it to adults. They might find it very hard to put their experience into words because they are still very little so play therapy uses movement which is a natural reaction.

‘We deal with children from all sorts of backgrounds, some come from more difficult ones than others and at times those can be the children that need therapy and support a bit longer, but not in every case.

‘Play therapy does not rest on asking questions or sitting them down to discuss a situation. Instead, the room is a place for them to explore as they would like to. Inevitably, while in that room, themes arise from the child playing, not from the therapist directing and so it is quite child-led with support from us to detect behaviour.’

Play therapy should become mainstream

‘With therapy there are so many layers and play therapy can help us identify more of them. We are trained to notice every detail; how they walk in, their tension through the session, their eye contact or any ticks they have and so much more. Sometimes children play in ways that invoke strong reactions and we are trained to be aware of that and observe as usual. Using movement is a very natural way for children to communicate.

‘It would be great to explain it all in one sentence but there are so many angles to it. However, quite simply it’s an approach that makes the most sense to children.

‘To see play therapy become more mainstream would be fantastic. The pandemic has provided the legislation as to how we can improve children’s mental health and I hope that play therapy can be considered across the board as a sensible early intervention that can be based in schools more regularly.’