Young people talk about how they are helping to improve mental health services
Young people at the centre of helping to improve mental health services are sharing their success across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s Particip8 group, which has been operating in Suffolk for four years with some great participation results, has now extended into Norfolk and Waveney.
And young people who have been involved in participation have talked about their experiences on a new podcast out this week in NSFT’s Mental Health and You series.
They discuss their mental health challenges and how they can support others on the road to recovery as their own health improves.
The podcast was hosted by Grace Hill, who has been involved with participation for nearly three years. She described participation as “passing on light”.
“I got involved because I’ve got lived experience and I wanted to use that to help others. I have been lucky with my experiences in that I can voice how I feel and advocate for myself, but I know that not everyone can do that,” she said.
One of her highlights so far was the presentation to NHS England nationally as an example of best practice in co-production. “That still doesn’t fully sink in,” she said.
She said it had been lovely to work together with other young people and said: “If you go into it with a passion you will flourish.”
The joint working sees Suffolk Children, Families and Young People (CFYP) participation lead Sophie Davies also covering Norfolk and Waveney. She will be working with people participation co-ordinator (PPC) Andrea Bland and three participation champions, including Grace, all have whom have lived experience.
“The changes will ensure consistency across the CFYP service and help support its development and transformation, ensuring young peoples and their families’ voices are at the centre of that,” said Sophie.
Andrea said: “The beauty of this set-up is that we will be able to duplicate and mirror best practice across both counties and share learning. Particip8 Suffolk has worked with more than 200 young people, and we will replicate this in Norfolk and include parents, carers and supporters.”
Over the last four years, young people have been involved in a variety of projects including improving crisis services and support for young people, improving the contents of letters sent out, exploring discharge and how this can be improved and person-centred working alongside the ambulance and police services to improve experiences for young people.
One young person involved had gone on to train to be a mental health nurse after using her Particip8 experience on her university application.
Andrea said: “It’s great to be able to offer this opportunity to children and young people across Norfolk and Waveney, to provide a space for young people to meet like-minded peers.”
Find out how to access the podcast series at Mental Health and You podcast | Norfolk and Suffolk NHS .
NSFT chief nurse Anthony Deery praised the young people who shared their stories in the podcast. “It’s so heartening to hear from them and see how their participation work is having such a huge benefit to NSFT as we strive to improve our services and how we engage with service users and families.”