Agenda item

Elliott Roy-Highley presented the key points on Covid-19 and its impact on the wellbeing of children and young people nationally, as well as within Barnet. Partners were encouraged to think about future services and how they could be adapted in response to the implications on mental health. It was noted that mental wellbeing was more than just mental health with inter playing factors such social, emotional and psychology wellbeing, influenced by environment. Issues such as crime, lack of green spaces and institutionalised racism could all have an impact on wellbeing. The goal was to promote good mental health and for it to be managed alongside the stresses of life whilst being able to build strong relationships.

Between 10-20% of children and young people experienced mental health conditions including self-harm, many of which were unrecognised or untreated. 28% of the 99,000 young people affected in Barnet were between the ages of 5 and 9. Barnet children differed from rest of the UK with higher numbers in Black and Asian communities disproportionately affected by Covid-19.

Evidence had shown that routines, social interactions, and friendships were crucial for children’s normal psychological development, all of which were taken away due to Covid-19 restrictions. Factors such as social isolation has had a negative impact on mental health and the duration of loneliness was strongly linked to increasing mental health symptoms.

The impact of lockdown had exposed existing inequalities amongst children particularly those with disabilities and special educational needs, those from Black and ethnic minorities, lower economic groups, and young women. It was important to know how services were reaching out to those affected more acutely than others. At a national level, reluctance to accessing services was due to stigma and waiting lists but privacy was an important factor that had been raised.

A broad range of services was available in Barnet to meet current and emerging needs but there was a challenge in effectively signposting children and young people to see the right person in the right form at the right time. Dedicated communications on mental health services for children and young people have been set up.

Increasing demands across services have also increased in complexity which include crisis cases. The Board would have to work collaboratively to best support children and young people in order to flourish. To meet rising demands, factors such as access to digital demand, inclusion, family resilience and available equipment needed to be improved.

Members queried whether the use of face masks at school at all times had a damaging effect on children and young people. It was noted that face masks were not raised as an issue that affected the individual’s wellbeing but that could be dependent on the age of the young person. Evidence of anxiety and perceived risk was noted to be high but educating children and young people was said to reduce that anxiety.

Members suggested including the Early Help element into future planning and its findings to be presented to the CAMHS transformation board as well as community review carried out by NCL CCG mental health services so that inequalities could be identified within Barnet as well as within the NCL CCG patch. 

With transition arrangements being classified as a period of increased risk, besides digital services, courses on mental health first aid could help young people manage themselves and their peers who struggled to communicate with parents.

Dara Darkwah informed members the Youth Board had identified that more race and diversity training was need for professionals in health and wellbeing services. Research had shown that there was the lack of diversity within the mental health sector, which created barriers when dealing with people from Black and ethnic minorities. Training would help address cultural barriers so that understanding on how to provide affective treatment could be achieved.

It was noted that details on progress with regards to disproportionality around inequalities, training offers within the Council and externally should be brought to the next meeting to give focus to the issue.

Transition was tricky for young people and several suicides in the local area were reported. Transition support could help prevent that.