Children and young people's mental health and emotional wellbeing (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

This needs assessment has illustrated the important link between mental health problems and many of the social and deprivation risk factors that are present in South Tyneside. We know that socioeconomic deprivation is particularly associated with multiple long term conditions, specifically mental health disorders (Barnett et al., 2012) [8]. Strategic action to reduce deprivation and improve economic prosperity for all communities in South Tyneside should be a system-wide priority.

The specific additional priorities identified by this needs assessment are:

• To ensure that the promotion, protection and improvement of the mental health of children and young people is seen as a key priority in local health and wellbeing strategies and commissioning plans,
• For commissioners to take an integrated, system-wide view of MHEW in children and young people to ensure that prevention is resourced appropriately to avoid an increase in more expensive demand,
• Ensure that risk factors of mental health and emotional wellbeing are recognised and recorded as part of children service delivery - this includes training for staff and changes to contracts to ensure that risk factors are recorded consistently,
• A structured and well promoted offer of evidence-based parenting programmes is needed in South Tyneside to work as part of the universal and targeted support offer,
• A clear skills development and training strategy is required to ensure that all frontline workers in contact with children and young people have the appropriate skills to offer low-level support and provide help in accessing appropriate services (recommended by NICE); these skills should include identifying and supporting young people who are (or at risk of) self-harming,
• Ensure that all local services offering MHEW support to young people meet the 'You're Welcome standards' and activity promote confidentiality,
• Commissioners and providers must prioritise continuity of care for children and families in specialist mental health services as a measure of quality and performance, and ensure that data-sharing and risk management do not become a barrier to providing a quality service,

To produce, publish and actively promote a map of local services available to prevent, identify and manage MHEW problems in children and young people, using appropriate media and feedback from young people, families and professionals.