An exploration into the experiences of young people who have both physical health and mental health support needs.

Caroline Holroyd, Helen Murray and Kirsty Wilson Common Room Advisors

February 2019

An exploration into the experiences of young people who have both physical health and mental health support needs.

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Introduction Our aim was to gain a qualitative understanding of real life accounts of those experiencing not only mental health problems but also physical health problems or disability alongside this. Discussions were conducted with four young people aged 18 to 25 years with this type of lived experience. We asked them

• What are the main issues that young people with mental and physical health conditions currently face?

• What are the implications of these issues on young people’s mental and physical health?

• What solutions would you suggest to overcome these issues? Exploring their experiences and view point, we focussed on young people being active in finding solutions for the issues presented. Findings We identified three main themes 1. Lack of integration and communication between physical

and mental health services.

If you’ve got a physical health issue and you go to get help with it, they often blame it on your mental health. (Female, 24)

Like a person in a wheelchair – first thing you see. With

physical illness they don’t think about how you may be feeling low, your self-esteem. Don’t think about people being able to live well mentally, only live well

physically (Female, 25) 2. Young people can feel isolated by their condition or

diagnosis and ignored by professionals, because of their conditions being treated separately.

Lack of communication leaving the YP feeling alone/abandoned/isolated.” (Female, 25)

I see a private counsellor once a month. I was told it be a 20-month wait for therapy on the NHS. No follow up from the hospital for my

An exploration into the experiences of young people who have both physical health and mental health support needs.

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chronic fatigue making me have no energy. If it’s on my record you would think it would be a concern but no discussion about it.”. (Female, 25)

3. Young people sometimes feel they have to take on all

responsibility for their condition and coordinating their own care.

Often the young person is left out of conversations and are left

juggling feeling like their own medical secretary, chaining up referrals, making appointments etc. (Female, 25) Our recommendations Discussions revealed the following suggestions from those that took part in our discussions. We would like to see

• Improved communication between mental health and physical health services, with further staff training, and better integration of services

• Increased and more thoughtful communication between the young person and their health professionals about health care plans, and clarity about decision making processes

• Greater awareness about and an offer of holistic treatment when young people have both physical and mental health difficulties

• Services better following through on actions and treatment, and reducing waiting times where this is problematic

• A shift in attitudes so that there is more validation related to people’s emotional experiences where they have ongoing physical health problems

Attitudes in the NHS and in society definitely needs to change. Doing a lot better but a long way to go. If you have lost a relative, people bring flowers. Even after death is not seen as important. People don’t know what to do. Society needs to be more open, .... It needs to be taken the same way as physical health (Female, 25)

I shouldn’t just be sent on my way if I say I am suicidal. I wouldn’t expect to wait that long for medication or therapist. I shouldn’t be sent home without being told when I will see the therapist. It would be uproar if a heart

condition was misdiagnosed. (Female, 25)