Young people

In England, 7,500 young people develop an emerging psychosis each year and 75% of mental health problems emerge before the age of 25. Research has identified the mid teen years as the period when there is a peak in the onset of psychotic and other serious mental health disorders.

Furthermore, the longer the "Duration of Untreated Psychosis" (DUP) the poorer the long term prognosis. It is clear that in order to avoid the human and financial cost of hospitalisation, we need to treat more people at an early stage of their illness. The task is finding cost-effective models which reap results.

Services for young people

Since 2007, we have established a series of recovery learning initiatives, called Uthink, for young people aged 14-25 who are experiencing or caring for someone with a mental illness. Our programmes enable young people to improve their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing, feel a sense of real achievement and begin making informed choices and plans for the future involving lifestyle, work and educational goals.

Bespoke programmes have been developed for young carers, teenage parents and young people from BME communites. We are now tailoring our expertise in mental health services and suppport for young poeple for use in the criminal justice system. We have developed a 'multi-level approach' programme of work that not only targets young people directly, but supports prison staff, including specifically prison nurses. This approach also provides accessible information resources for professionals, young people and families. Young people can also acquire valuable skills, including the chance to gain a recognised Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network qualification.

The Uthink programme delivers a number of interventions:

1. Recovery learning programmes for 19-25 year olds who have experienced first episode psychosis; regular group sessions facilitated by an experienced team for a given time period.

2. Residential programmes for 19-25 year olds who have experienced first episode psychosis – the only programme of its kind in the country; an intensive activities agenda that introduces young people to new ideas, new experiences and the opportunity to build greater self esteem and peer support.

3. Modular Emotional Wellbeing programmes for 14-18 year olds who have experience, or are at risk of developing, mental health difficulties; The focus is on raising awareness and prevention of mental illness as well as offering an early intervention for young people demonstrating signs of mental illness.

4. Engagement with schools and colleges by developing and delivering information packs for schools and programmes in educational venues; raising awareness of mental health amongst pupils, teachers and people working within each setting, changing attitudes, tackling stigma and improving access to advice, information and support.

5. Online information and support for young people who have an experience of living with mental illness, carers, siblings and friends; offer advice, information and support and encourage peer to peer support. The information and self-help sheets comprise a guide to good mental health as well as techniques for managing the effects of mental illness, developing support structures and signposting help.

6. Leadership training events; fun interactive day providing skills for public speaking, planning and organising activities and taking part in local forums etc.

Independent analysis by the University of Central Lancashire shows strong positive outcomes in areas of managing mental health, self care, daily living skills, development of social networks and relationships, reduced addictive behaviour, improved self-esteem and stronger feelings of trust and hope. Our interim outcomes data set indicates that, after participation in Uthink, young people demonstrated substantial gains in all dimensions represented in the Recovery Star and with the exception of drugs and alcohol, these improvements were statistically signifcant.

On completing a Uthink programme, a number of young people have resumed attendance at school or college and/or have begun to look for further training and education opportunities.