HEADSPACE, a new toolkit from the Mental Health Commission for young people accessing the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), will give them practical information on their rights and help them to ensure that their voice is heard.
The purpose of the toolkit – which was developed in consultation with young people with the aim of being age-appropriate and accessible – is to support and empower young people who need to use mental health services, particularly those who need to go into hospital.
It gives practical information about what will happen when they are admitted to hospital for mental health care and includes information about their rights, their legal protections, and how to self-advocate in decisions about their care.
Launched in print and online formats, the toolkit encapsulates information such as what care in an inpatient unit might look like, an overview of what may happen from admission onwards, the people that the young patient might meet, and a full explanation of words they may hear.
It also includes practical information such as what young people can and should bring into hospital.
The Headspace toolkit is available in online and downloadable forms in 12 languages at mhcirl.ie/headspace.
