Children’s mental health ‘has worsened’ since Covid pandemic

CHILDREN in Calderdale feel under more pressure than before and their mental health has worsened through the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a review seeking some solutions.

Concerned cross-party councillors have made 11 recommendations they hope will improve support for young people, including where they can get help and advice.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet is now being asked to adopt recommendations made by the scrutiny review group.

This review was initiated after reports were presented to Calderdale’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Board which indicated that the primary concern of children and young people across Calderdale was their emotional wellbeing.

Review group lead, Coun Diana Tremayne, said as well as partners including schools, the voluntary sector, NHS and Calderdale mental health advice and support website Open Minds, they had spoken to children themselves about their concerns.

Potential solutions also had to consider financial restraints services were under in making 11 recommendations drawn up by crossparty councillors.

Coun Tremayne said: “What we have seen very clearly are the challenges that we face.

“We wanted to come up with recommendations that are manageable and achievable, and we think we have done that.”

The report identifies three key themes – connectivity, empowerment and access.

A key recommendation is a holistic approach with partners sharing their knowledge, identifying unmet need and establishing good practice in responding to problems when they arose, without need for separate multiple referrals to a range of agencies, said Coun Tremayne.

This would include face-to-face and virtual networking opportunities for partners in education and youth provision who support young people, with greater support for trusted adults within Calderdale’s communities, who should be empowered to support the young people.

Coun Dot Foster liked the single point of access proposals.

“You shouldn’t have to fill in umpteen different forms with the same information to try and get your child the help they need,” she said.