One in five young people has a diagnosable condition.
Milton Keynes City Council is expanding local emotional wellbeing and mental health support for young people with a new service that offers earlier support.
It is estimated that 20 per cent of young people (8-25 years) in Milton Keynes have a diagnosable mental health condition. Evidence shows that early help can reduce the need for more significant interventions later on, such as those provided by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
To make helpful, earlier action available to local families, Milton Keynes City Council and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board are funding the new MK Wellbeing Service for three years.
Delivered by emotional wellbeing service CHUMS, it’s for young people aged 7 to 18 years, or up to 25 if the young person has care experience or special educational needs and disabilities.
Help is available through telephone, virtual and in-person sessions. Up to 600 spaces per year will be funded in community-based emotional wellbeing and mental health programmes, and a further 150 spaces in talking therapy programmes.
The MK Wellbeing Service will boost what’s on offer in the city. Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust will continue to offer professionals and young people a wide range of support within schools, crisis and urgent care and elsewhere.
Local families can also continue to access a range of support provided by the voluntary and community sector.
“We know there are thousands of local children and young people who could benefit from mental health support at an earlier stage,” said Councillor Donna Fuller, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health, Community and Housing.
“This new Wellbeing Service is easy to access for both young people and their parents and carers, which means help is there as soon as it’s needed. This has the potential to prevent the need for more serious interventions and reduce the demands on our local health services.”
“We are delighted to launch the MK Wellbeing Service, marking a pivotal moment for the community,” said Dawn Hewitt, Chief Executive of CHUMS.
“At CHUMS, we're incredibly proud to see this service come to fruition, offering vital prevention and early support that empowers children and young people on their journey to positive mental health.”
