We are the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). We are here to help children and young people in our local area who may be having problems. They may be very upset or very angry, they may be behaving in unusual ways, or their family or carers, friends or teachers may be very worried about them.
A project that sees specialist mental health workers venture into local classrooms has been given top marks by teachers and pupils.
Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS), a pilot project by Bradford District Care Trust, works to improve the emotional well-being of children and young people by raising awareness of mental health issues and the help and support available.
Focussing on the emotional, social and behavioural needs of children aged 5-13 years, TaMHS workers from the Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have worked in four local schools.
Bradford Academy, Tong High School, Belle Vue Girls and the University Academy Keighley are all benefitting from the year-long pilot project.
Working with a range of school staff, school nurses and primary mental health workers, TaMHS workers act as a one-stop shop for pupils’ emotional well-being needs and help teachers improve their understanding of mental health through training.
Early results from the project show pupils now have more confidence in themselves and school staff, are willing to discuss their feelings and difficulties more freely with others and have greater access to the right mental health support they need, in a convenient location.
One pupil said: “My school TaMHS worker came into assembly and made sure everyone knew who she was, where she was based and how she could help.
“Not long after that she had some self referrals so it just shows young people will go and get the help they need if they know it’s there.”
The work of the project has also been praised by Mark Vaughan, Head of Operations, CAMHS. Mr Vaughan said: “After family, school is the most important environment in the lives of children and young people.
“Having TaMHS workers based in school environments has created an invaluable health-education link and is a great resource for the schools involved.”
