One Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust for everyone

For the first time, everyone in Kent and Medway will now be supported by one local NHS mental health trust, marking a new chapter in care.

From today, Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust will support children and young people who need specialist mental health support, as well as the adults it has always looked after. It will also help people aged 8 and older to overcome eating disorders.

Sheila Stenson, Chief Executive of Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “This is a landmark moment for mental health care in Kent and Medway. When mental health support isn’t joined up, it can make a difficult time for people feel even harder as they are passed between organisations, rather than getting the help they need in one place. This is a real concern for young people moving into adult care.

“By bringing eating disorder, adult and young people’s mental health care together in one place, we can start to improve this and create a better experience. It won’t happen overnight, but working closely with our people, partners and communities we will create a more integrated model of care, so everyone gets the right help, at the right time, in a way that works for them as individuals.”

To make sure people currently using eating disorder and children and young people’s mental health services do not experience any disruption to their care, Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust will continue to run the services exactly as they are initially. They will see the same trusted clinicians, in the same places and use the same contact details.

Alongside this, we will start developing a new, joined up approach to developing mental health care fit for the future.

The full list of new services Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust now looks after are:

• Specialist mental health assessments and treatment for young people significantly affected by mental health difficulties, in the community and at the Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital;
• Specialist help for children and young people in a mental health crisis;
  Emotional Support and Wellbeing Teams in schools to help young people manage issues like anxiety, poor sleep and exam stress before they need more intensive support;
• Help for anyone aged eight years or older with an eating disorder;
  Assessments and diagnosis for young people with neurodevelopmental needs such as autism and ADHD;
• Support for young people with a severe learning disability and behavioural, emotional or mental health needs

You can find more information about these services here.