Helping children sooner: Boosting mental health support at the GP’s front door
Date added: 25 June 2026
Last updated: 25 June 2026
Children and young people in Kent and Medway are getting mental health support earlier, with a new approach that places specialist mental health practitioners directly within GP surgeries.
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has embedded clinicians from its Children and Young People Mental Health Service and All-Age Eating Disorder Service into practices across the county. The aim is to identify concerns early and provide timely support before difficulties escalate.
When a GP identifies issues such as anxiety, low mood, family changes or emerging eating disorders, they can now refer patients straight to a specialist mental health practitioner. This enables quicker access to the right support for young people and their families, reducing delays and helping prevent the need for more intensive services down the line.
The initiative is also strengthening collaboration between primary care and mental health services, supporting a more joined-up approach to care.
Louise Sparkles, Children and Young Person’s Mental Health Practitioner at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “It’s about spotting things early. We can step in before problems escalate and, in many cases, prevent the need for more specialist services.
“Working closely with GPs helps us build stronger connections across services. If I’m supporting a child and recognise a parent needs support too, I can link them directly with adult services. It’s a much more joined-up system.”
Practitioners come from a range of professional backgrounds, including nursing, social work and occupational therapy, and tailor their approach to each child. Sessions may involve creative and interactive methods such as games, drawing or workbooks to help children feel at ease and open up.
Louise said: “We’ll get down on the child’s level and work in a way that feels natural and comfortable for them. I once did a mental health assessment for a 9-year-old on a trampoline in the garden, and it worked brilliantly.”
By bringing specialist mental health support into GP practices, the trust is creating a more joined-up approach to care that makes help easier to access closer to home.
As part of its wider prevention work, the trust’s approach ensures children and young people get the right support at the right time, helping to build resilience earlier, reduce the need for more intensive services, and give every young person the best possible chance to thrive.
