Andrew Mitchell MP met Helen Miller, Corporate Fundraising Manager and Dearbhla Craddock, Corporate Partnership officer from the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust to discuss the hospital’s “Fight for All the Feels” programme.

The mental health of children and young people has been an important subject since the pandemic began last year. Significant disruption to schooling, social activities and daily routines as well as the anxiety, stress and uncertainty of the pandemic itself has led to an increase in mental health concerns among young people. As many as one in six young people between the ages of 16 and 24 have experienced a mental health issue. Across the mental health service as a whole there were 100,000 mental health referrals in Birmingham over the course of the last year.

Fight for All the Feels is addressing the issue of youth mental health through their innovative Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) service at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust is providing a range of mental health services to those aged 25 and under.  Fight For All The Feels aims to help young people to feel confident in speaking up about their mental health concerns.

During the meeting, Andrew discussed the extent of the mental health crisis in Birmingham. Helen and  Dearbhla also spoke about the recruitment of 20 young people who have previously dealt with mental health issues. These individuals have used their own experiences to assist those presently suffering. Peer Support Workers will also provide an accessible model of care and act as a direct point of contact for young people from referral, throughout treatment and during the discharge period.

The programme has secured initial funding, but the team is looking to increase capacity to help more young people. Andrew will be following up on the issue of future funding, and members of the public can also donate directly to the scheme via: https://fightforallthefeels.org/donate 

Commenting, Mr Mitchell said

“The Fight for All the Feels programme is an excellent initiative and I was interested to hear more about the programme and in particular the young people who are acting as mentors to their peers. Those experiencing mental health concerns can often feel very isolated and alone and it was really good to hear more about the Trust’s work supporting local young people.”