A NEW scheme launched is hoping to “dramatically improve” the availability of mental health counselling and mentoring for young people in the district.
GPs in Stroud, Dursley, and Wotton have collaborated with local health and social care specialists to provide in-house counselling and mentoring sessions.
The scheme - which receives funding from NHS Gloucestershire - aims to allow young people to access services within two to three weeks.
Dr Simon Opher, Labour MP candidate, has led the project with Dr Robin Blenkarn from Five Valleys Medical Practice and Dr Jim Holmes from Rowcroft Medical Centre.
The scheme also includes Hollie Jones from Berkeley Vale Primary Care Network, Dave Rawlings from Stroud District Council and Paul Walley from the NHS.
Under the partnership, mental health first aid certificate training is also being offered at local schools and Stroud College.
Meanwhile, The Door is also providing mentoring sessions and Gloucestershire Counselling Service is providing one to one consultations.
Ms Jones, trainee counselling psychologist said: “Previously when I referred young people to mental health services, either the referral was rejected, or they were given an appointment in 6 to 9 months.
“Now we can get them some professional counselling within weeks.”
A young person from Dursley, who asked not to be identified, said: “I was in a very low place. I felt anxious all the time, I couldn’t sleep properly and worried about everything.
“I felt stuck and didn’t know what to do.
“Hollie was so supportive, it felt like I was understood for the first time and she has helped me access counselling locally relatively quickly.”
Dr Opher from May Lane Surgery said: “We are in a perfect storm of increasing demand and reducing provision by an overstretched and underfunded NHS.
“Our statutory NHS mental health services are simply not coping.
“We have a crisis in young people’s mental health. The figures are quite shocking.
“The pandemic has caused a four fold increase in eating disorders, and rates of anxiety and depression have gone up by over a third.
He added: “Here in Stroud district we’re proving that things can be different
“But we need children's mental health to be treated as a priority across the country.
“It is a Cinderella service in the NHS and at present is failing our young people.
“The situation for ADHD and Autism services remains grim.
“Many young people are forced into the private sector to get assessments.
“This is simply not acceptable. I am campaigning to improve services for these conditions for both adults and children.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care stated that they are investing an additional £2.3 billion per year in NHS mental health services by March 2024.
In a statement they said: “We are determined to do everything we can to support children and young people with their mental health.
“This is why we are investing an additional £2.3 billion a year into NHS mental health services.
“This will mean 345,000 more children and young people will be able to access NHS-funded support.
“We are also extending coverage of mental health support teams to at least 50 per cent of pupils in England by the end of March 2025.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel