Young people to give advice on mental health care

The new scheme aims to provide specialist mental health care at home

Young people who have faced mental health challenges are helping with a new scheme in Sussex aimed at providing specialist care at home.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is "drawing on the experiences of those who have been through the system to try to improve outcomes".

The former service users are helping to design the scheme aimed at treating some people at home rather than admitting them to hospital.

Dr Anna Moriarty, associate clinical director of CAMHS, said: "What we're hearing from young people is they are keen to have an alternative to being admitted to hospital."

She told BBC Radio Sussex: "They want to be closer to their family and friends and continue with their education.

"We are continuing to adapt to increased demand on services.

"This is enhancing our offer for young people with significant mental health difficulties."

Evie, who was admitted into inpatients for six months, is helping with the Sussex scheme.

She said: "Having a perspective from someone my age who has been through similar things to me would have really benefited me.

"It is about how we can make the system better."

Dulcie, another former service user, said: "People who are now in a better place can communicate with the professionals to improve outcomes for everybody.

"I think it's good to use people who have used the services themselves as they know how it is from a first-hand perspective."