Mental health strategy to improve transition services for young

The government will develop resources to help young people with mental health problems move from child to adult services as part of its strategy on mental health, published yesterday.

As part of the New Horizons action plan the Department of Health will work with the Social Care Institute for Excellence to “develop resources that will help support local development of effective processes around transition.” The government will also establish a process for identifying and disseminating good practice in transition from child to adult mental health services.

The strategy calls on commissioners and providers of mental health services to involve young people in planning and designing services, promote early identification of mental health problems, and base services within community settings such as leisure centres, schools and colleges.

Professor Dinesh Bhugra, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “We are particularly pleased to see the focus on early intervention in schizophrenia and psychosis and better transition services for young people.”