1. The Mental Wellbeing of Children and Young People Dr Karen Newbigging Health Services Management Centre September 5th 2017

2. Children and young people aged 0-17 make up 21
Children and young people aged 0-17 make up 21.3% of people living in the West Midlands
Birmingham is a youthful and ethnically diverse city with 45.7% of the population under 30 and 42% from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community
It is estimated that 9.8% of 5-16 year olds have a mental health condition
50% of mental illness in adult life (excluding dementia) starts before age 15 and 75% by the age 18
Supporting children , young people, parents and families and key organisations, particularly school and workplace settings makes good sense

3. Individual, social, public sector and economic
The costs of not doing:
Individual, social, public sector and economic
12.6 billion, approx. £3,100 per head
Rising numbers of people detained under the MH Act
Particular groups underserved
Life course and generational impact
Source: Newbigging and Parsonage (2017). Mental Health in the West Midlands Combined Authority

4. For example:
In mid-2014 there were 53,367 children aged 0-1 in the WMCA
There is a high prevalence of perinatal depression and anxiety
This can have an adverse impact on the wellbeing of mothers and compromise the healthy emotional, behavioural, cognitive and even physical development of children
The risks of adverse developmental consequences are roughly doubled as a result of perinatal mental health problems
It is estimated that the average long-term cost to society of one case of perinatal depression is around £74,000
In the WMCA, for a one year cohort of births, the total long-term cost of perinatal depression and anxiety are estimated at around £0.55 billion

5. Strengthening the focus on children and young people in the West Midlands
West Midlands Thrive
University of Birmingham Mental Health Commission
Institute for Mental Health
Academic Health Sciences Network
Development of Forward Thinking Birmingham
Prevention Concordat

6. Risk factors for poor mental health for children and young people
Socioeconomic deprivation
Homelessness
Abuse and neglect
Being in care
Being a carer
Severe and multiple disadvantage
Being a member of a minority group: BAME, LGBTQ, living with a disability
Looked after children
Adverse Childhood Events

7. What do we need to do?
Address social inequalities – initiatives to tackle social disadvantage
Focus on children, start with parents and families in the early years
Ensure a positive context for social and emotional development in schools
Intervene early with children and young people showing signs of poor mental health, including conduct and behaviour disorders
Provide services that are youth friendly and involve children and young people in their development
Target those children and young people most at risk

8. Implications for the voluntary sector in the West Midlands
Campaign together to tackle the conditions for poor mental health and for better support for children and young people
Closeness to children, young people and communities to co-produce solutions
Distinctive role in developing youth friendly services – a holistic, non-stigmatised approach
Develop a broad offer and target ‘at risk groups’

9. What sorts of activities?
Mental health awareness raising for communities, school and workplaces
Easy access spaces providing a range of support for parents and/or children and young people
Crisis support
Advocacy and promoting rights
Peer support
Employment support
Initiatives to build resilience and help young people address personal challenges
Support with housing
Building financial resilience and advice on welfare rights
Gender specific, ethnically specific or for LGBTQ people
Support for single parents, young carers
Horticulture/ sports initiates targeted at young people who might not access services
Creative activates – writing, mucus,
Counselling, stress and anxiety management
Recovery-oriented courses: coping with anxiety, depression, building self-confidence, anger management, mindfulness and lacking sleep problems
Suicide prevention training

10. Thank you
Karen Newbigging