New digital tool could help youth experiencing mental health crises receive better hospital care
Researchers in Nottingham are leading a new national study to help identify and prevent harmful consequences of mental health crisis in children and young people admitted to hospitals
Nottingham Trent University is involved in the study, which is led by Dr. Joseph C Manning MBE, Clinical Associate Professor in Children and Young People's Nursing at Nottingham Children's Hospital and Centre for Children and Young People Health Research at University of Nottingham.
The study will evaluate the use of new technology designed in Nottingham to help staff in Emergency Departments and children's wards, to rapidly identify those at risk of self-harm or even suicide and put in measures to improve their safety.
The CYP-MH SAPhE digital tool enables rapid assessment of children and young people by staff working in Emergency Departments or in other acute hospital clinics and wards.
At NTU, Philip Breedon, professor of smart technologies in the School of Science and Technology, will support prototype development of the technology and dissemination of the project.
Dr. Joseph Manning said: "Every day in the NHS hundreds of children and young people who are experiencing mental health crisis are seen in Emergency Departments and over 300 are admitted for assessment and treatment. They are seen and treated by staff who are highly skilled and experienced in emergency and acute pediatric care, but who may not be trained in mental health care.
"Our experience of working with young people, families and staff in Nottingham Children's Hospital has led to the development of the SAPhE digital tool to assess and prevent the immediate risk of self-harm. Being admitted to hospital can be a daunting experience for anyone. But for young people in mental health crisis, it is even more important that staff can quickly and effectively assess the risks of more serious consequences occurring such as self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
"Over the next year we aim to evaluate whether this tool could be used more widely in other Emergency Departments and hospitals and what the impact might be on improving the care and treatment for people who are admitted to acute hospitals."
