Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Services
28/11/23
Efforts to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Dundee are being highlighted.
The children, families and communities committee will hear the updated report on the implementation of the Tayside Emotional Health and Wellbeing Strategy in Dundee and note how measures for monitoring and improvement should be considered.
This report outlines that in the year July 2022 to June 2023 counsellors provided an average of 180 hours of support per week, with nearly 800 young people accessing the counselling service. Young people using the service presented for several reasons including anxiety, bereavement, depression and exam stress.
70% of parent/carers evaluations, reported their child’s wellbeing had improved following counselling and 73% reported their child was more able to identify issues that concerned or worried them.
In addition, the council continues to work in partnership with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Recently they have seen the co-creation of a new Neurodevelopmental (ND) Portal to support children and families on waiting lists across Tayside.
The committee will also hear that a new Scottish Government funded self-harm support service, run by Penumbra, is being piloted in Dundee schools. Work is underway and the work is expected to be rolled out to more schools.
Children, Families and Communities Convener Stewart Hunter said: “Improving the mental health and wellbeing of our young people is vitally important.
“It’s great to see some of the successes being highlighted in this report, I know a lot of partnership working goes on and it’s great to see areas that it is making a difference.
“There are a lot of interventions in place to support our young people and this report highlights a number of these.
“We are under no illusions though; our young people’s mental health remains a concern and it’s imperative that we continue to think of effective ways to combat this and make life better for them.
“As always, I would encourage any of our young people, their family or friends to reach out and get help and support either for themselves or someone they care about. This report highlights some of the great services available in the city and our schools are set up and ready to help.”
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