Idea: Bridge the Gap

 
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  • Created on: 09 Sep 2011
  • Idea status: Just a thought
  • Town: Lancaster
 

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What it's all about

I am keen to set up a campaign, initially in my local area, to improve the transition between CAMHS and AMHS. After being referred to CAMHS for severe depression, I have made fantastic progress. However, at 17 years old, I am reluctant to end my time with the CAMHS team, as this would leave me without support due to the wide gap in services provided to young people in need of help, between the ages of 16 and 18. As only half of the CAMHS services in the UK take young people up to the age of 18, many young people at this VERY vulnerable and difficult age (not a child but not an adult) are let down by the system; being too old for the CAMHS teams, but too young to be accepted by AMHS. Personally, I am left feeling extremely apprehensive about ending my CAMHS sessions, as there is no telling whether I will become ill in the future, and be unable to get the excellent help that I was given through the CAMHS service.

What's needed to make it a reality

Currently, I have several worries about how to get this idea turned into a reality and how to apply for a small amount of funding (to enable flyers and publicity within my area). I have experience in promoting and volunteering with several charities however, I'm not sure about what resources I would need to effectively make this plan a reality. I would love some feedback about this issue, as I feel like something must be done to stop young people with mental health problems from struggling when they should be receiving the same support as any other group of people. Thankyou for any help and advice you can give

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Comments

  • Avatar Marty Davis 01:02, 10 September 2011 Hi my names marty and i also have a account on junction 49 ,i have been reading your idea and would like to say well done,i think what your trying to achieve is amazing and you should be proud to want to help young people,the funding obviously being a issue im sure junction 49 team will help you with,however you could creat flyers and posters by hand and find out what young people in your community think,I think you have great idea and should start from their,another issue you could also look at is the referal times is takes to be reffered from a doctor to chams,as a lot of people dont get the help they need when they need it,i hope this idea works and i would like to ask if you could possibly keep in touch and let me no how things are going as its also a issue close to my heart,i would also with your permission and help possibly think about starting a group or something simular in my area as i think it could do with one,good luck and thanks marty Report Abuse
  • Avatar Eleanor Newton 16:06, 11 September 2011 Hello Marty!, wow, thankyou so much for your response, and especially your suggestion about tackling referral times! I really hadn't thought about it but I do now remember how hard it was personally to get the referral! please add me as a friend on facebook, I'd love to discuss this idea with you some more and I'd really enjoy speaking to you on the subject. Once again thankyou, it's a good feeling for somebody to acknowledge that your idea is potentially a good one :) my facebook name is eleanor neutron. Report Abuse
  • Avatar Sarah 13:57, 12 September 2011 J49 Team Hello Eleanor,

    Welcome to Junction49. I'm Sarah from the Junction49 team here to support you in turning your idea into reality.

    First off, this is a great project and something that is definitely needed. TimeBank, the charity that runs Junction49 is actually looking for funding to run a mentoring project to support young people in the transition from CAMHS to AMHS. I think they're just looking for it to run in London at the moment, but if you would like to feed into it at all then just send an email to help@junction49.co.uk or if you want to take a look over the proposal. (It may also provide some useful information for your campaign.)

    I think your campaign is a brilliant idea and there are definitely funds out there that you can apply to to get your project off the ground. Here are some links to a few:

    - O2 Think Big http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/
    Awards of £300 for your project, given in stages, for projects to improve the community. This is open to 13-25 year olds.

    - Live UnLtd http://www.liveunltd.com/
    Live UnLtd will give up to £5,000 of funding and all the support needed to turn a great idea into a reality. Open to 11-21 yr olds.

    You mention that you're worried about not receiving the support that you need. I just had a thought of how you could extend the project further if you were interested, as I'm sure there most be lots of other young people like yourself who feel this way too. Could you perhaps set up some sort of peer support group in your local area for other young people leaving CAMHS, where you could arrange regular get togethers to offer support and advice to each other, so at least there is some sort of provision during the difficult transition stage? This is of course, only an idea and it may not be something that you think would work.

    If you take a look in our resources section, we've got a 'How to guide' for setting up an awareness raising campaign which may be of help: http://www.junction49.co.uk/resources/

    I hope that helps to get you started.

    Let us know what we can do to help further. I look forward to hearing from you,

    Sarah     Report Abuse
  • Avatar Marty Davis 18:07, 24 October 2011 Hi eleanor its marty,sorry i have taken a while to reply back to you i have not really been on junction49 much lately,how is the idea going ? i hope its coming along well and i would love to hear more about it maybe even possibly help you,i have tryed to add you on facebook but have had trouble findind you ,i have only really just got it and not to sure how to use it yet lol,hear is my name you can add me if you like,talk to you soon my name is marty davis and the picture is off my cute gechko lol Report Abuse
  • Avatar ada 17:08, 03 November 2011 J49 Team Hi Eleanor,

    I'm Ada, I work here at junction49.
    I've been reading through your idea and think its brilliant.

    How is your time at CAMHS going? and did you get time to have a look at http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/ or check out our how to guid for setting up an awareness raising campaign http://www.junction49.co.uk/resources/

    Let us know how it going.

    Ada
    Junction49 helpdesk

    ,     Report Abuse
  •   Avatar Sarah 11:39, 02 December 2011 J49 Team Hello Eleanor,

    How are things going with your idea?

    I thought you might be interested in this recent website that has been created by some young people. It's based in Sunderland but they provide links to support and advice for young people in the area around particular issues. You can check the website out here; http://www.pallionactiongroup.co.uk/help/helphome.html

    If you want to get in touch to find out more or maybe if you want to set up something similar in your area, check their page on Junction49 here: http://www.junction49.co.uk/idea/2885/h_e_l_p_websiite/


    If you need any help at all, just get in touch.

    Sarah     Report Abuse
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