Mental health support for 0-25s in the West Midlands UK
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Care pathways, current support and unmet mental health needs of young people in an urban UK environment.
IRAS ID
158238
Contact name
McDonald Paul
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 3 days
Research summary
This project aims to develop an in-depth understanding of the key issues related to early engagement with services for young people who are vulnerable to or experiencing mental health difficulties, from the perspective of relevant stakeholders including service users, young people; carers, parents and professional staff.
Mental health problems can start at an early age and many persist into adult life unless properly treated. 50% of lifetime mental illness (except dementia) begins by age 14 and up to two thirds of school-age young people who may have diagnosable mental health difficulties are not being offered an appropriate intervention at the time the problems first emerge. Alongside this, Birmingham is significantly poorer than the national average for ‘hospital admissions for mental health conditions’ and ‘hospital stays for self-harm’ (Public Health England, 2012, 2013).
This project will elicit the views of key stakeholders across the region on factors associated with delays in identification and engagement of young people experiencing mental ill health and their carers to establish how changes in information provision, engagement practices and communication methods could provide the greatest benefits to stakeholders within a new service model. There will be a particular emphasis on how digital technology can provide additional ‘wrap-around’ support for this age group and the services that they interface with.
The study will implement a comprehensive series of interviews and surveys with representative groups of key stakeholders. A mixed methods approach will be taken to data collection, including semi-structured interviews on engagement and experience of services; friends & families test; demographic data and a Delphi model participatory exercise for key stakeholder groups on priorities for any new service model.
Findings will have relevance to the implementation of any new model of mental health service for the 0-25 year olds in Birmingham and the west midlands and will help to develop stakeholder priorities for how best to create effective care pathways that involve both preventative/educational support and targeted interventions where appropriate.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
14/IEC08/1017
Date of REC Opinion
10 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion