The Healthy London Partnership (HLP) Children and Young People’s Mental Health (CYP MH) programme has produced data inequalities snapshots for each Integrated Care System (ICS) in London. The purpose of these data snapshots is to support local systems in addressing health inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes in CYP MH care. This could support system partners to identify and begin to understand where action is needed in London to tackle inequalities in the CYP MH system. The snapshots use existing datasets and intelligence, providing a reference point to begin planning, commissioning, and delivering CYP MH services in London which are preventive and protective.

The data snapshots can also be used to address the priorities highlighted in the Advancing Mental Health Equalities Strategy, published by NHS England and NHS Improvement in October 2020. This strategy sets out the core actions required to bridge the mental health equalities gap, and it an important part of the overall NHS plan to accelerate action to address health inequalities as part of the COVID-19 response, and sits alongside the NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan (2019/20-2023/24).

Paul Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Responsible Officer for the HLP CYP MH Programme, said:

”The past year has been challenging for everyone in different ways. The pandemic and lockdown periods have highlighted the stark realities of the health inequalities faced by different population groups, in particular for children and young people who will need mental health support in the months and years to come.

It is fantastic to have these snapshots as they provide an overview of published data sets to aid the planning and decision-making process for transforming CYP mental health service provision across London. System leaders should use these packs as a starting point for further local deep dives into data and information to plan, develop and commission initiatives to support communities which are often marginalised.”

Ian Lewis, Local Authority Adviser, Children and Young People’s Mental Health, HLP, and Joint Chair of the HLP CYP MH Tackling Inequalities Working Group, said:

“We know that many groups in society face discrimination and that this can in turn have an impact on their mental health. It is vital that mental health services are accessible to everyone. That is why I believe it is so important to bring together data and information in one place. These snapshots are an important step forward – they also tell us what more information is needed.”

There are five snapshots, one for each of the ICS in London, which can be found here.

Visit: Children and Young people Mental Health here.