Capacity & SkillsImproved OutcomesService Delivery ChangesSystems Influence ARC Outreach Alliance: Young People’s Open Minds in Northwest London – Mental Health Infrastructure

North West London (NWL) boroughs have high ethnic diversity, socioeconomic deprivation with large inequalities in health status and healthcare access. Capacity for community mental health research within the sector and in ARC NWL has historically been lacking in relation to need. Links between physical health, mental health, deprivation, ethnicity, education, and social care are well-recognised, yet a lack of centralised data has limited the development of a joined-up, population-based approach to identify and support children and young people (CYP) at risk of developing mental health (MH) conditions and those with existing conditions.

In 2021, we set out to address MH inequalities for CYP in NW London establishing ARC Outreach Alliance – an innovative project designed to address CYP MH research inequalities by:

1. Creating a stakeholder network to advocate for policy changes and onboarding CYP as advisors to produce research relevant to, steered and informed by CYP.
2. Collating and centralising big data on CYP MH service provision to improve research and service provision.
3. Engaging with schools to explore barriers to accessing useful digital therapeutic tools to support early intervention for CYP MH.

In 2024 we have received further NIHR funding to continue our work on:

1. Data driven discovery around health inequalities in access to CYP MH diagnostic services and interventions
2. Understanding barriers to accessing care
3. Improving the experience and reduce need for CYP MH crisis Care
4. Growing ARC Outreach Alliance PPIE Engagement network – Listen to Act & YPAG

This project had a significant impact on the NWL landscape for CYP. Firstly, data driven discovery using routine data from primary and secondary care has identified inequalities in access to MH support for CYP in terms of referral pathways and access to specialised medication prescribing, as well as mapping gaps in mental health crisis care. These studies have highlighted systemic level inequalities as well as characterising specific populations at increased risk of mental health crises.

Secondly, the IMPACT study has improved awareness of MH support provided within schools, by offering evidence based digital solutions, and by identifying subpopulations of CYP least likely to access these interventions, setting the groundwork for better understanding the barriers that perpetuate inequalities in access to mental health interventions. These data have also provided a contemporary snapshot of unmet mental health need in school age young people in NWL and sets the groundwork for understanding likely barriers to uptake of our novel app co- designed with CYP integrating monitoring and real-time interventions to treat emotional dysregulation (in line with Imperial BRC objective). This work is currently subject to a randomised controlled trial.

Thirdly, involving young people has become integral to NWL mental health research as well as to the NWL ICB strategy for mental health. Demand for input from our YPAG exceeds capacity, despite the expanded number of young people involved.

 

AOA short film – created, filmed and edited by YPAG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQrrS5N9ko

Winner of the inaugural PPIE Project competition announced

Youth Engagement — Listen to Act | Working In Partnership With Local Community Groups & Organisations | London – Westminster – Kensington & Chelsea – Hammersmith & Fulham

NHS England » Guidance on neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams for children and young people