Young people’s social connections during inpatient mental health care.

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Keeping in Touch: opportunities and barriers for young people maintaining connections to families, friends and education during periods of inpatient mental health care using case study methodology.

• IRAS ID

  250127

• Contact name

  Gavin John

• Contact email

  johnGE@cardiff.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Cardiff University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 11 months, 3 days

• Research summary

  Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) refers to National Health Service (NHS) specialist mental health services in the United Kingdom (UK), which provides assessment and treatment for children and young people who are experiencing difficulties with their emotional or behavioural well-being (YoungMinds, 2018). Where children and young people need the highest level of care, for example those with the most complex and severe mental health difficulties, care for the child or young person will usually be provided and managed through specialist inpatient CAMHS (McDougall et al, 2008).
  However, periods of admission to hospital for mental health care poses a range of risks to young people. Hannigan et al (2015), highlighted these risks by conducting an evidence synthesis of risk identification, assessment and management for young people in inpatient CAMHS. Priority areas from the ‘stakeholder group’ within Hannigan et al’s (2015) evidence synthesis indicated the importance for these ‘less obvious risks’ to young people, such as losing touch with education, and losing connections with family and friends. However, information and evidence about the assessment and management of these less obvious risks is scarce. Therefore, this programme of research will be conducted to generate new knowledge underpinning the most effective way of identifying, assessing and managing less obvious risks to young people during inpatient mental health care. This will be achieved through conducting a mixed-method study utilising interviews, questionnaires and observations and will involve children and young people receiving inpatient mental health care, their parents/carers and health, social and education staff located at an adolescent mental health unit in Wales, UK. The study is being funded through Cwm Taf University Health Board and via a Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS2).

• REC name

  Wales REC 5

• REC reference

  18/WA/0374

• Date of REC Opinion

  26 Nov 2018

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion