The NHS in Gloucestershire is asking children and young people, as well as their parents and carers, for their views on the emotional support currently provided for children and young people and how it could work better.

This local initiative is being driven by the government’s publication of Future in Mind in March this year in response to the findings of a Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Taskforce.

The report outlines recommendations about improvements that could be made to emotional support for children and young people including the development of a local plan to improve support for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Mental health concerns are common and at least one in four of us will experience issues at some point in our lives. Yet despite this, children and young people often don’t get the help they need as quickly as they should. As a result, issues such as anxiety, low mood, self-harm and eating disorders can stop some young people living life to the full and can continue to have an impact on their mental health as an adult.

Dr Jeremy Welch, GP and Clinical Lead for Children and Young People at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“Growing up should be one of the best times in anyone’s life but it can also be tough to cope with some of the challenges life throws up.

Young people need to know what to do if they are troubled by emotions or problems with their mental health, and that includes knowing when and how to ask for help.

We want our local systems of support, including schools and communities, to respond better when children and young people have difficult or challenging life experiences, and to encourage emotional wellbeing in children and young people.  We also need services that are able to respond quickly in times of need to offer the right kind of support when it’s needed to help children and young people stay or get back on track.”

Children, young people, parents and carers are invited to give their views on how they feel support could be provided and how they would like to access it, by completing this short survey or by e-mailing feedback and ideas to: GLCCG.enquiries@nhs.net

The NHS also has an Information Bus which will be travelling around the county, providing an opportunity to ask questions, give feedback and find out more about services. The bus will be located at:

  • Gloucester Cross, Westgate Street, Tuesday 8 September, 10am – 6pm
  • Cheltenham, outside the Beechwood Arcade, Wednesday 9 September, 10am – 3pm
  • Stroud, King Street, Thursday 10 September 10am – 6pm
  • Lydney Tesco, Friday 11 September, 10am – 3pm