Young people and their parents and carers are being asked to help shape a new mental health service which will support pupils in secondary schools across Blackpool and Wyre.
Announced in July and welcomed by local groups the service will see two Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) developed to support pupils at secondary schools, special schools and pupil referral units in Blackpool and Wyre, as well as students at Blackpool and the Fylde College (up to their 19th birthday).
The teams will support those who are experiencing emotional or wellbeing issues such as low-level anxiety, low mood, or friendship or behavioural difficulties, to ensure they don’t escalate to more serious mental health issues.
They will work with pupils either face to face or in groups. They will also give advice to school staff and parents to help children get the right support and remain in education. Where necessary, the teams will work alongside specialist services.
As the service is developed the Fylde Coast NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups want to hear from young people, their parents or carers and teachers to find out what they would expect from the service.
Senior commissioning manager for mental health for the Fylde Coast CCGs, Lesley Tiffen, said: “We are really keen to co-produce the service. To make it the best it can be we need the views of young people, parents, carers and school leaders.”
There are four ways to get involved including a competition to design the name and logo for the service. There will also be roadshows in schools as well as a survey and a chance for people to sign up to be more closely involved as “service shapers” at online events later in October.
Lesley adds: “We have a fantastic opportunity to create a service that will have a huge impact on supporting young people to avoid more serious mental health issues. We’re very excited about the possibilities of what we can create, and I really hope as many people as possible join us on this journey.”
To get involved simply go to www.fyldecoastccgs.nhs.uk/mhstinvolved where all the opportunities are explained.
