This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme this year is loneliness. Since the pandemic, many children and young people have experienced isolation and loneliness which can lead to anxiety.
According to a survey by Young Minds in the summer of 2020, 80% of respondents agreed that the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse and 87% of respondents agreed that they had felt lonely or isolated during the lockdown period.
As a result of this and because of the high demand to access CAMHS services, Alder Hey has developed an online facilitated peer support group called Calm and Connected.
The Group is available to young people currently on a CAMHS waiting list and to any new referrals who are experiencing feelings of anxiety, isolation or loneliness.
Calm and Connected consists of several sessions of evidenced-based, low intensity CBT and access to a peer support networks consisting of fellow participants. The aim being to improve the mental health and decrease anxiety of the young people participating.
Feedback from the group has been positive, with one young person who accessed the service saying:
The people were really nice and they listened to my experiences and were really nice and kind about it.”
Alder Hey is committed to improving the lives and wellbeing of children and young people. So far around 150 children and young people have accessed Calm and Connected which is funded by Alder Hey Children’s Charity through the National Lottery Community Fund.
Other Mental Health Support
CAMHS Crisis Care Team
If you or a child or young person in Sefton or Liverpool is in a mental health crisis then we have a 24/7 helpline available.
The CAMHS Crisis team are mental health practitioners who can offer advice and support about how to cope in a crisis, help a young person or carer make plans to keep a young person safe and offer ongoing support as and when required.
Sefton and Liverpool CAMHS website
Sefton & Liverpool CAMHS services aim to promote the mental health and wellbeing of all children, young people, families and carers. The platform provides you with useful resources to support mental health and wellbeing for children and young people. It also allows young people 14 and over, parents / carers and professionals to make referrals to Sefton & Liverpool CAMHS services.
Support Alder Hey
Our 7in10 Mental Health Appeal is dedicated to ensuring children and young people get the mental health support they need as early as possible.
Find out more about the appeal, and how you can show your support, by click the below button.
Our 7 in 10 Appeal