Agenda item - Children & Young People mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

65.1 This item was presented by Chas Walker (Programme Director, Integrated Service Transformation) and Bernadette Alves (Consultant in Public Health).

65.2 Chas Walker and Bernadette Alves, with accompanying slides, gave an overview of the progress and work done as a health and care partnership to support children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, including the feedback and recommendation areas received from partners.

65.3 Councillor De Oliveira asked a question on key advice to parents and how they can support their child’s mental health. Bernadette Alves and Chas Walker responded to the question, referencing available resources and the key nature of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

65.4 Adam Fazakerley (Primary Collaborative) and Tanya Brown-Griffith (Director for Joint Commissioning and Integrated Community Teams at NHS Sussex) gave statements and contributed to the debate.

65.5 Councillor Grimshaw asked a question on the children to adult transition and its impact on mental health services for those people, and on neurodiversity assessments and areas of need that are growing in young people. Tanya Brown-Griffith responded to the questions, stating that the transition is a key area for partners focus. They also stated that the areas of growing need and the neurodiverse pathway are also areas of focus and work moving forward.

65.6 Allison Nuttall (Sussex Partnership) raised a point of clarification on the neurodevelopmental work, the specific case for change, and how they sit together.

65.7 Caroline Ridley (Impact Initiatives CEO) gave a statement on voluntary organisations and voluntary sector work funding.

65.8 Alan Boyd (Healthwatch) made a statement on ensuring young people are included in discussions such as these and vaping being used as a stress relieving measure by some young people.

65.9 Stephen Lightfoot (Chair of NHS Sussex) made a statement on the number of children effected and that this seemed low, the need to be cautious against over medicalisation, and the need to offer appropriate support.

65.10 Councillor Grimshaw made a statement on the rise of homelessness amongst family households and the impact this can have on children.

65.11 RESOLVED – that the report be noted and approved.