Action for Children saved my life
• Welsh woman turned her life around with help from Action for Children
• Young boy back living with mum in community after therapeutic intervention
• Charity recommends more resources invested in mental health services for children, young people and families outside of CAMHS on World Mental Health Day
Jackie Gleed, from Risca, had suffered with mental health issues for a number of years and was referred to Action for Children’s Caerphilly Family Intervention Team (FIT) as family life became difficult and worked with a psychotherapist in the team.
Caerphilly FIT works with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, problems with family relationships and those who have or are likely to self-harm. They work directly with families to help understand the reasons behind certain behaviour and use creative techniques that are tailored to meet individual needs.
Jackie said: ‘I didn’t trust anybody at all and I was very isolated and wouldn’t go out anywhere due to anxiety. It was a really tough time. That was when I started working with a psychotherapist alongside the family sessions that were being provided by the family support practitioner.
‘Working with the whole family was just what was needed because obviously as mum and not being great, it affected how I was with my children, how they were with me and it fed on that. The individual therapy was also critical and I gradually started going out and I got my life back. I’d be dead without Action for Children. Caerphilly FIT saved my life and that’s not being dramatic because that’s how I felt. I couldn’t have gone on anymore.’
Action for Children is at the vanguard of providing innovative mental health services in Wales at a time when multiple research projects are highlighting the extent to which mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are affecting our children and young people. A recent UK government funded research programme found a quarter of girls and nearly one in 10 boys show signs of depression at the age of 14.
In a wide-ranging response to the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s inquiry into the emotional and mental health of children and young people, Action for Children in Wales has recommended investment in a wider range of mental health services outside CAMHS. This would increase the capacity and reach of lower tier and earlier intervention services and reduce pressure on CAMHS waiting lists and ensure that young people can access appropriate support, when they need it most.
The charity’s work in Wales has also caught the attention of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge who visited Caerphilly FIT and Torfaen Multi-disciplinary Intervention Service (MIST) in February. Torfaen MIST is a child and adolescent mental health service for looked-after children with complex needs, who may be at risk of being placed in out-of-area residential or institutional care due to their mental health needs.
The Duchess met Connor on the Torfaen visit, a young man who had a difficult time with his family and ended up in care with anger and anxiety issues. He is working with MIST support worker, Jordan Jones dealing with those issues through meditation, play, mindfulness and adopting coping strategies for moments when he feels anxious or angry.
Connor, (16) said: ‘Action for Children changed everything. They’ve helped me calm down when I get angry with my mum. Now I can talk about my feelings and my anxiety and I feel pretty happy. Things are good at home too; we still have arguments but they’re less serious and less often.
‘All in all life is much better than it was two years ago. If I need to talk then Jordan is always around. I just text him, and we chat. It’s made all the difference. With Action for Children I’ve got the support I need, when I need it.’
Brigitte Gater, Action for Children’s National Director Wales, said: ‘World Mental Health Day is the perfect platform to underline our commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of our children, young people and their families. We are driven by campaigning for change and working with Welsh Government to secure better outcomes as we are in the front line dealing with a range of complex issues affecting whole families.
‘Our mental health services do vital life changing work every day in the communities they serve. Whether it’s helping care leavers prepare for an independent life; school-based counselling; intervening early in difficult family relationships or providing therapeutic foster care for those with complex mental health needs; we are passionate about putting emotional wellbeing front and centre of everything we do.’
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For further media information please contact Alastair Love, media officer at Action for Children, on 02920 347068 / 07872 675688 / alastair.love@actionforchildren.org.uk
Out–of–hours enquiries should be directed to the duty press officer on 07802 806679/ media.team@actionforchildren.org.uk
How Action for Children works: from before they are born until they are into their twenties, we help disadvantaged children across the UK. We help them through fostering or adoption – and by intervening early to stop neglect and abuse. We make life better for disabled children. We influence policy and advocate for change. Our 7,000 staff and volunteers operate over 600 services, improving the lives of 390,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers every year. We succeed by doing what’s right, doing what’s needed, and doing what works for children.
For more information, visit actionforchildren.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @actnforchildren
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