News Release, 19 January 2000
On Tuesday 29 February, the Mental Health Foundation will challenge teachers, social workers and GPs to pull down the barriers between them and work to have a positive impact on children's mental health. The Bright Futures National Conference will be held at Regent's College, London, from 9.30am.
"With one in five young people under 20 experiencing psychological problems ranging from anxiety and depression to psychotic and major development disorders, we must change everybody's attitudes," said Helen Kay, children & young people's programme manager, Mental Health Foundation. "Mental health is not just a specialist concern. The mental health of children and young people is affected by a whole range of factors, and with the specialist services already overstretched we must forge new partnerships across schools, primary care and other services and ensure that professionals have adequate training in this area."
The conference will take forward the key themes of the Mental Health Foundation's two-year Inquiry into the mental health of children and young people, which published the Bright Futures report in June 1998. Subjects to be tackled include the need for emotional wellbeing to be a part of core school activities, to how best to develop accessible mental health services and crisis services for children and young people.
The keynote speaker, Lorna Farrington, will speak about her experiences as a secondary school head in turning a "failing" school around by focussing on behaviour management, peer mediators, inclusion and school democracy - all areas which promote resilience and self esteem. Other speakers include Professor Peter Hill from Great Ormond Street Hospital; David Browning, associate director, Audit Commission; Mark Perfect, Youth Justice Board and Graham Thornicroft, Institute of Psychiatry.
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For further information and interview requests contact please contact the press office on 020 7803 1105 / 1128 or email the press office
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