Needs of Children and Young People Living with Complex Mental Health Difficulties : Why it’s Everyone’s Business

This book shows how it is now increasingly important that nurses and all other health professionals working with or caring for children and young people (CYP) can contribute to the care and support these vulnerable individuals need.
Given the limited specialist mental health services available for CYP, this book helps to recognise when referral to specialist services is required. It is aimed at providing nurses and other health professionals with a comprehensive understanding of some of the complex mental health issues faced by young people today and to provide them with confidence in how to interact helpfully with them.

Currently, there is a crisis in supporting CYP with complex mental health issues and their families/carers in getting the help they need. There has also been a large increase in presentations to CYP mental health services resulting from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly a quarter of 17-year-olds have reported having self-harmed in the last 12months and of those, nearly 1 in 15 (7%) have reported having suicidal thoughts and 1 in 7 (16%) high levels of psychological distress. Despite this, only 1 in 3 CYP with a diagnosed mental health condition get access to appropriate care and treatment.
While covering a range of complex mental health issues (such as self-harm, eating disorders, and psychosis) this book also explores wider factors that can influence poor mental health (such as being looked after, having a disability, drugs and alcohol, and social media). Alongside these, it explores some of the wider systems and processes that can provide practical guidance to practitioners (having a Trauma-informed approach, awareness of risk management, and safeguarding).
Lastly, the book recognises how overwhelming it can be for practitioners working in this field and explores how they can use reflective practice and self-care in the development of a therapeutic relationship that enables them to interact positively and non-judgementally with young people with complex mental health issues. Examples of good practice are provided throughout the book by using case scenarios and tips from young people with lived experience.

This book will prove to be an invaluable guide to assist nurses, teachers, social workers, paramedics, health care assistants and police force in giving help and support to CYP.