The purpose of the initiative was to capture the experience and knowledge of young people and parents/carers along with dedicated professionals from the CAMHS team, who create informative and engaging mental health resources. The CAMHS Team brought together a therapeutic project for the benefit of our service and the benefit of young people locally. This also benefitted the wider community, involving young people, carers/parents, bringing them together as a group of young people who have benefited from service user participation.
The purpose of the initiative was to capture the experience and knowledge of young people and parents/carers along with dedicated professionals from the CAMHS team, who create informative and engaging mental health resources
CAMHS Team brought together a therapeutic project for the benefit of our service and the benefit of young people locally. This also benefitted the wider community, involving young people, carers/parents, bringing them together as a group of young people who have benefited from service user participation. This project is called Biomation. Biomation are a not for profit organisation producing creative animations with young people.
Members of the team facilitated focus groups. They were involved during the 3 weeks when the animations team, along with young people involved, created the figures. When the films were recently showcased to other services involved in the care of young people in Scarborough and the outlying areas, those involved in the project were able to show the good work which takes place at CAMHS. “The CAMHS therapeutic art project was developed alongside our service user group for young people, including parents. Working collaboratively and creatively, three short animated films were developed, What Is CAMHS, Self- Harm and Family therapy; these can be viewed on YouTube and TEWV NHS foundation trust web site.”
The CAMHS team brought together a therapeutic art project with and for the benefit of young people, service users and families. This resource has been used locally and is available internationally. CAMHS went the extra mile, working over and above their busy schedules, empowering each other and increasing confidence.
The purpose of the initiative was to capture the experience and knowledge of young people parents/carers along with dedicated professionals from CAMHS team, who create informative and engaging mental health resources, for the benefit of our service and The benefit of young people locally also for the benefit of the wider community, involving young people carers/parents, bring them together as a group of young people, who have benefited from service user participation. CAMHS team has facilitated focus groups, been party to the 3 weeks, when the animations team, created – liaised with the communications team because the films were recently showcased for staff the young people involved in the project and for other service to show case the good work which takes place at CAMHS.
Members of the team has been available every step of the way for young people and there cares, nothing ever seems to be too much for them, staff has involved me as a nominee when I have been working with the communication team to support in the organisation of Lake House opening day and empowered me as a staff member, increasing my belief’s in my own confidence. Team has worked with Biomation involving a group of young people/service users along with parents, over the past year to produce 3 service user films which are as follows.· What is CAMHS
· Self-Harm
· Family Therapy
From the project we have many colourful printed art works of the animated models in Lake House reception and in the therapy rooms.
Patients, Parent, Carers, CAMHS Team, Biomation Team, and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust who supported this fantastic Project.
Co-Production
Young people from the group said: “It was really good fun”, “I learnt loads of new skills and enjoyed meeting new people”, “The project inspired to me study animation at college” and “It’s great to spread mental health awareness.”
A service user’s parents, said: “We knew things weren’t working for us as a family and didn’t know who to turn to or even what the problem was. As parents, family therapy proved the most effective and our son really enjoyed and benefited from the therapeutic art workshops and one-to-one therapy. For us the service was a life-saving service that accepted us and put us on the road to recovery.”
One parent said ‘we knew it was not working for us as a family and did not know who to turn to, or even know what our problem was’. As a parent, family therapy proved to be most effective and our son really enjoyed and benefited from the art project and one to one therapy. CAMHS TEAM has been a lifesaving service that accepted us as a family and put us back on a road to recovery’. ”
Looking Back/Challenges Faced
The only small challenge was time and at the beginning how where we going to get the children here from rural villages staff overcome this by collecting them also involving parent to transport, if we could change this the offer of transport and the cost would have helped families however there where very happy to be part of this project so this helped, staff having more time although I feel is always going to be a challenge, due to service demand, this was overcome by offering personal time and supporting each other with work load/service demands.
Sustainability
The young people involved along with staff are so proud of this project, its demonstrated throughout CAMHS, the project is an on-going topic of conversations with new staff and new service users, we talk about the only person who can change thing is ourselves, the positive outcome of the project, we can draw from the pictures and sharing the project, the plasticise figure are available to show case anytime the art work is on all the walls in CAMHS for all service users/visitors to see, CAMHS have been committed to the project and to remain focused, continue to be positive, be dedicated and keeping you deadlines in you electronic diary’s to be viewed daily, goal in sight at all times throughout the project. At the moment we are looking at the group work we offer, how or if we can deliver it in a leaner way and if we can capture a wider audience? can we roll this out to other in the community? We are constantly reviewing and seeking idea from service users/carers and staff.
Evaluation (Peer or Academic)
We are constantly evaluated by ROMS, RCADS, STQ, We have made a difference this has been demonstrated by the feedback from young people involved and their families and the testimony’s received at CAMHS www.tewv.nhs.uk/lakehouse
Outcomes
CAMHS have gained many thank you messages and cards from young people and their families, one message from a Thank you card sent in to CAMHS; The young people felt empowered and demonstrated being able to participate in the project to assist in their own recovery program. CAMHS do demonstrate good team work, empowering each other.
Sharing
Sharing the information and knowledge of the project to the wider communities, also approach by Leeds Trust to share CAMHS art work, making of the three films are on TEWV web page, this will hopefully capture our communities. The films will be placed on You-tube, Twitter, Facebook and the local newspaper to promote young people’s mental health and send out a message to young people to say its ok to ask for support from the Mental Health Service. The project has supported the recovery of young people.
Empowering our young people/carers to participate in the project, supporting them to work together to assist in producing some wonderful eye catching pieces of art work, for all the visitors who visit CAMHS Lake House to enjoy the surroundings.
CAMHS have gained many thank you messages and cards from young people and their families, one message from a Thank you card sent in to CAMHS; The young people felt empowered and demonstrated being able to participate in the project to assist in their own recovery program.
(Young Person Testimony) ‘During several school holidays we have spent time at CAMHS Lake House Scarborough, making various videos to help raise awareness of mental health issues and the involvement in CAMHS. As a young person I felt it was really important to do this to help other young people or parents when they are in this tough situation. Spreading awareness around mental health is so important as we want to diminish any stigma that is associated with this topic.
The films will benefit and help young people who both use or don’t use CAMHS. Our introduction to the CAMHS video will help people who may be nervous about coming for the first time; this was an issue before as there was nothing like this to watch on line. I believe the self-harm video could make a big impact across the NHS. There are many people that self-harm and have negative influences online. We felt the video would be great to add a positive message to people struggling through this hard time.
During this project we all had to be extremely respectful as we share our personal stories to help with the videos. We listened and respected each other stories and kept the information shared confidential when we left the session. Team working was massive in this project, if we hadn’t worked together nothing would have been done, we also had to be committed, if we did not show up nothing would have been achieved on time and would not work, therefore, we all committed to coming every day, otherwise we would miss out on our lines. The experience has been one of the best I have had in this service, I have gained lovely friends and valuable skills that will stay with me the rest of my life, also the videos will help other people many years to come.” “Thank you” animation
Is there any information you would like to add?
During this project we all had to be extremely respectful as we share our personal stories to help with the videos. We listened and respected each other stories and kept the information shared confidential when we left the session. Team working was massive in this project, if we hadn’t worked together nothing would have been done, we also had to be committed, if we did not show up nothing would have been achieved on time and would not work, therefore, we all committed to coming every day, otherwise we would miss out on our lines. The experience has been one of the best I have had in this service, I have gained lovely friends and valuable skills that will stay with me the rest of my life, also the videos will help other people many years to come.” “Thank you” animation
