Preventative Initiatives To Support the Mental Health of Young Adults

The latest data reveals (29th October 2024), that it now takes a wait of, on average, 315 days for a young person (16 – 24 year-olds) to gain a mental health appointment with the NHS. The waiting time has doubled over the last four years, reflecting an increase in demand alongside an overstretched NHS.

There has been a lot of conversation around mental health, particularly since the pandemic, and many young people recognise the symptoms but are not deemed ‘severe enough’ to warrant professional healthcare support.

While NHS England are addressing this growing problem and acknowledge that a reduction in waiting times is a key priority, the answer surely lies in prevention? This is what we are aiming to do with Hope-FX. 

Working with Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, the FEL team has trialed an initiative that gets young people actively involved and learning new creative skills. 

The programme was so well received that it has made the shortlist for a HSJ Award, in the Early Intervention and Prevention category. HSJ Award winners will be announced on 21st November and being shortlisted is confirmation that preventative initiatives such as Hope-FX work, and are essential to support young people within our communities.