News

We’re supporting new work to tackle mental illness earlier, and to value mental and physical health equally, that is being carried out by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership.

The work has several areas of focus:

• Gain a holistic view of the day-to-day experiences from families, services and service users.
• Understand the challenges and potential opportunities for people with Autism and/or Neurodiversity
• Work collaboratively with partners to maximise the best possible health and care outcomes across the region.

The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership’s ambition is to support the delivery of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health and the NHS Long Term Plan. It focuses on tackling mental illness earlier, physical and mental health integration and making sure people get the right care at the right time.

The partnership’s Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Programme Board, want to gain a holistic view of initiatives and programmes across the region which demonstrate a positive impact on the physical and/or mental health and wellbeing of young adults (14-25) and adults who have Autism and/or Neurodiversity.

How you can get involved

• Complete an online case study, to be completed by Friday 31 July 2020
• Attend the WYH Sharing Good Practice event later in the year – date and venue to be confirmed

This work is not intended to replace or duplicate existing work taking place as part of the Mental health, Autism and Learning Disabilities programme.

Brent Kilmurray, Chief Executive of Bradford and District Care NHS Foundation Trust said:

 “Many young adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) have difficulties accessing the support they need, which leaves them isolated and vulnerable at a critical point in their lives. We know that sometimes this lack of support can result in mental health deterioration and limit their potential for to live a fulfilling and rewarding life. Capturing the real live experiences of young people who have been supported in the right way at the right time will help us to share good practice across the region and inform our future service models across the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership”.

Ruth Wilson, Mental Health Programme Lead, for Yorkshire & Humber AHSN said:

“We are excited to be working with the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership to identify examples of good practice initiatives supporting young adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC), across a wide range of local partners.  These will be used to support the Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Programme to understand the challenges and potential opportunities to work collaboratively with partners to maximise the best possible health and care outcomes across the region for young adults with ASC.”