GAMH

1
GAMH

• YOUNG CARERS PROJECT
• Working with Diverse Communities

2
Mental Ill Health and Young Carers

• Children and young people with a parent who have
  MIH have shown to be at a higher risk of social
  isolation and developing emotional, psychological
  and behavioural problems, and are at risk of
  developing MIH later in their adult life. A
  consultation exercise carried out by GAMH showed
  that 95 of young carers felt stress 65 faced
  isolation and 73 felt there was a lack of
  support. They expressed concerns around
  unpredictable behaviour and mood swings

3
Mental Ill Health and Young Carers

• Impacts upon their lives include coping with
  unpredictable behaviour, mental health related
  stigma and disruption to their lives due to
  separation from their parents during periods of
  hospitalisation.
• This contributed towards social and emotional
  isolation and a reluctance to share problems and
  feelings with others or maintaining friendships.
  Additionally a sense of being different and
  feelings that friends do not understand their
  situation can contribute to further isolation.
• A study carried out by GAMH on young Ethnic
  Minority Carers (2000) showed a strong sense of
  expected care giving. The pressure of young
  carers to look after their own places great
  psychological, social and educational burden on
  them as young carers.

4
G.A.M.H Young Carers Needs Assessment Research
(2000)

• This study, funded by the Joint Care
  Commissioning Group for Child and Adolescent
  Mental Health was undertaken to assess the needs
  of children and young people living with an
  adult/relative who experiences mental ill health
  in the NHS Greater Glasgow area.

5
It was estimated that there are between 5049 and
7422 CMHT service users who live in a household
with children, and between 7926 and 11,653
children and young people living in their
households. 50 of all adults who experience
mental health problems are also parents.
6
Young Carers Project GAMH

• The Young Carers Project is aimed at young people
  between the ages of 12-18 years of age who live
  at home with an adult who has a mental health
  problem. The aim of the projects is to maximise
  the opportunity for young carers to participate
  in social and recreational activities.
• The project began in 1999 funded by the Mental
  Health Development Fund to work alongside the
  Riverside Resource Centre. Area now covered by
  the project is the west of the city.
• The project was further extended in 2001, funded
  by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health
  Promotion Fund to cover the Southside.

7
Referral routes

• GAMH Projects, Community Mental Health Teams,
  Social Work Department, Voluntary/Community
  Projects, Youth Groups, Word of Mouth and Self
  Referral.
• Placements are made to the project following
  initial assessments, completion of a Personal
  Profile and parental consent.

8
Aims/Objectives of young carers project

• Maximise the opportunities for isolated young
  carers to participate in social and recreational
  activities
• Activities include horse riding, arts and
  crafts, rock climbing, theme parks, abseiling,
  limousine rides, ice skating, golf, go karts,
  badminton, kick boxing, tennis, martial arts,
  swimming, theatre, pantomimes, cinema, concerts,
  day trips.

9
Aims/Objectives of young carers project

• The provision of social and recreational
  activities means that the young people are doing
  things and meeting people in similar situations.
  It helps young people to learn valuable skills
  like developing self confidence, self esteem,
  resilience and encourages good practical and
  communication skills.
• It enable young people to have some fun and
  normality in their lives, to develop and grow
  in ways appropriate to their age.

10
Empowerment

• The young people/carers are at the heart of group
  planning and are encouraged to contribute to the
  functions of group organisation and project
  development. This is done through the planning
  meetings and steering group meetings.

11
Individual Support and Transition Support

• The young carers are provided with individual
  support as and when required. When specific needs
  are identified the staff will seek support from
  external services.
• To enable young people to make the transition
  from the project extra support is provided. This
  is done in the form of Individual Care Plans.
  This is a joint agreement by both parties which
  focuses on short and long term goals.
• Key partners include Health and Social Care,
  Community, Voluntary Organisations, Youth Groups,
  Education, Training, Employment, Recreational,
  Vocational Services.

12
Mental Health Awareness

• The project is well resourced with information,
  literature, journals, fact sheets. The project
  has produced the following
• An Information pack targeted to young carers.
• A video and DVD of the young carers view on
  being a young carer and why they need such a
  project.
• An Induction/Information Pack for existing and
  new staff.

13
In this project about 50 of all the young carers
have been from the black and minority ethnic
communities. Initially it was supposed to be a
separate service for black and minority ethnic
groups onlywe didnt think that was the right
approach to take. The Scottish Executive
Equalities Strategy (2000) is based on the
principles of mainstreaming
14
The Scottish Executive has a vision of an open,
just and inclusive Scotland where respect and
understanding are fostered and where everyone is
encouraged and enabled to take part in society to
their full potential, free from prejudice and
discrimination.
15

• The National Programme for Improving Mental
  Health and Well Being Equal Minds Report
  highlights the need to
• Understanding differences and recognising areas
  of commonality across and within different groups
  as they relate to mental health inequalities
• Understanding the implications of multiple
  identity/multiple disadvantage on mental health
  and wellbeing
• Enabling a practice environment that respects
  differences

16
Working With Black and Minority Ethnic Groups

• Within a service there is always room for further
  exploration and further development.
• We have done some joint work with Glasgow Anti
  Racist Alliance to address the needs of diverse
  communities focussing on but not exclusively with
  black and minority ethnic young people.

17
(No Transcript)
18
The project had three main objectives

• Personal and social development for the young
  people
• Mental Health First Aid Training
• Raising Mental Health and Race Issues with
  Community Care and Social Care Partnerships

19
Outcomes

• Personal Development
• Young people who were vulnerable to developing
  mental health problems were identified.
• The young people were supported to explore and
  develop social and emotional skills which would
  provide them with coping options and build their
  overall resilience.
• The young people were provided with the space and
  privacy to explore future goals and were
  supported to make positive/self determined life
  choices.
• The young people were provided with information
  and advice on services and supported in accessing
  appropriate community resources.

20
Social Development

• Young people from black and minority ethnic
  groups are disadvantaged in many ways. However,
  an individual is able to cope as long as the
  balance between stressful life events and
  protective factors is manageable (Bright Futures,
  Mental Health Foundation 1999).
• By providing a social / recreational programme
  the project was responding to the key emotional
  and social needs of young people who in the past
  have been overlooked. An important key to
  promoting young peoples mental wellbeing and
  self esteem is promoting resilience i.e.
  supportive networks and range of positive leisure
  activities.

21
Outcomes (Cont)

• Steering Group so young people could be
  involved in the organisation, planning, decision
  making of the project and promoting the views of
  the group. Regular representation is made at
  Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance and the Childrens
  Commission for Scotland.
• Young Peoples Newsletter The newsletter contains
  various personal accounts in relation to being a
  young carer or young black person.
• Mental Health Video The young people
  participated in a 10 week programme with
  Projectability to explore issues and self
  expression relating to mental health. A video has
  been produced by the project and was presented at
  the Glasgow Film Theatre.
• Mental Health Awareness The young people have
  been participating in a fortnightly programme to
  promote mental wellbeing.
• Identifying the Community Health and Social Care
  Partnerships and ensuring that issues relating to
  mental health, young people and race are
  incorporated into the planning agenda.

22
Conclusion

• The young people who have been involved in this
  project have been disadvantaged in many ways
  their experiences of mental ill health, their
  social circumstances, being a carer, their age,
  their personal preferences, their race,
  ethnicity, religion etc.
• However, the project has proven successful in
  engaging with these young, vulnerable and
  disadvantaged people, due to the focus and
  priority placed on creating an atmosphere which
  respects and promotes diversity, individual
  differences, integration and racial tolerance.

23
Conclusion

• We have a Service Agreement/Group Guidelines,
  values and principles of the project which is
  signed by all the young people in the project
  which states that we will not discriminate, we
  will not use derogatory language, we will be
  tolerant and respect each other despite our
  differences.
• Gaining funding to develop the project has
  enabled the organisation to work with a wider
  range of young people in the transitional ages
  between childhood to adulthood, an age where
  young people are known to be most vulnerable of
  developing emotional and mental health
  difficulties. The GARA funding however has been
  short term.
• The long term aim of this project would be to
  create wider change within the commissioning of
  statutory mental health services for young
  people. Through a range of partnerships
  developed issues around mental health and
  diversity can be raised with a wide range of
  organisations. The project aims to support the
  young people and build their capacity to share
  their experiences and to use these experiences to
  influence positive change in the development of
  future services which are more responsive to
  their needs.

24
Good Practice Guide

• Need to address common issues of accessibility
  and power
• How acceptable are you?
• How flexible are you? e.g. Can you provide
  assessments in different languages?
• Are you able to adapt to the different needs of
  people?
• Are you aware and sensitive to the different
  experiences of individuals / Can you adapt to
  these differing needs?
• Make no assumptions
• Some groups are almost invisible until you look
  for them
• Break the ice, examine outreach programme and
  referral practise
• How you interact with diverse communities can
  make or break the programme

25
Good Practice Guide

• Learn to listen closely and understand what is
  really going on
• Be genuine and clear about the help you can
  really provide
• Develop trusting relationship
• Need visible commitment from all staff / be
  prepared to share the power
• Mixed composition of workers
• Encourage staff to challenge discrimination
• Work in partnership with the individuals and
  external agencies
• Utilize existing resources. Dont duplicate
  fill the gaps
• Do not expect quick fix
• Do not get discouraged.appreciate small
  accomplishments
• Maintain ongoing commitment
• Have fun !!!!!