GOSH marks World Mental Health Day with new mental health framework

Carly Vassar, GOSH’s newly appointed Chief of mental health and Young People’s Forum, said: “This framework underscores our dedication to innovative and high-quality holistic care, effective risk management, and ensuring that our workforce is equipped to recognise and respond to the mental health needs of our patients.

“Children, young people and their families have shared with us the challenges that come with living with long term conditions. Many have experienced the anxiety, the stress, and the uncertainty that can accompany physical health conditions, whilst others maybe accessing GOSH care for a primary mental health concern.”

The vision of this framework is that all children and young people accessing GOSH will be supported with their mental health, and that mental health will have parity with physical health.

Children and young people who require support will have this delivered in a timely way with staff with the right skills to do so. Good mental health enables children and young people to reach their full potential, adapt and cope with challenging circumstances and have fulfilling relationships with those around them. Early identification, early intervention and building resilience are key. Evidence shows that supporting parents' mental health is essential to promoting and maintaining children’s overall wellbeing.

With this new framework, GOSH plans to advance care for children and young people with complex needs, whether physical health, mental health or a combination of both.

Chief Nurse, Tracy Luckett said: "By embedding mental health into everything we do, this framework reflects our shared commitment to providing the best possible care and recognises that we must care for the whole of our patients, not just treating them physically, but emotionally and psychologically too."

At GOSH, opening conversations and spaces to talk about mental health have been our first steps in challenging stigma and cultural views that mental health is not a priority.

During the development of the framework, we also saw and heard of varying initiatives across the Trust, but it was clear there was not consistency, but pockets of practice we can build on. We are grateful for the individuals across the Trust, children, young people, their families and our staff who have helped support the development of this framework.

It is important to recognise many people have their own lived experiences of mental health and care and we remain committed to ensuring this framework becomes a lived reality for those accessing care at GOSH.

This new framework will sit alongside the incoming GOSH strategy refresh, which will be launched later this year. Meaning the new framework will be set out for the next five years from 2025 to 2030.