Mental health is key priority for the NHS, as outlined in the Long-Term Plan (2019). To support this, Health Innovation KSS is working with NHS commissioners and systems leads, industry partners, other health innovation networks, voluntary and community sectors, and those with lived experience to support the spread and adoption of innovation in mental health.
National Programmes
FREED – First episode Rapid Early intervention for Eating Disorders
Health innovation networks, including Health Innovation KSS, are supporting mental health teams across England to speed up diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in young people aged 16 to 25 through FREED.
FOCUS ADHD
Health Innovation KSS is working with mental health trusts and community paediatric services to improve the assessment process for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) using computer-based tests (measuring attention, impulsivity and activity).
Mental Health Safety Improvement Programme
The Mental Health Safety Improvement Programme (MHSIP) is a national programme aimed at improving the safety and outcomes of mental health care by reducing unwarranted variation and providing a high-quality healthcare experience for all people across the system by March 2024.
Mental Health Research
Mental Health Research
Health Innovation KSS supports Kent Surrey and Sussex Applied Research Collaboration (ARC KSS) to implement research in mental health
Find out more about Children and Young People’s Mental Health research – Starting Well: Children’s Mental Health | ARC KSS (nihr.ac.uk) and mental health research through primary and community health care – Primary & Community Services | ARC Kent, Surrey & Sussex (nihr.ac.uk)
Find out more about ARC KSS
Local Programmes
Youth Summit
Sussex Youth Summit 2023
The 2023 Sussex Youth Summit brought together around 80 representatives from education, voluntary and community sector, local authorities, NHS, as well as young people with lived experience – to further progress plans for improving community-based emotional wellbeing and mental health services and support for people aged 16 to 25.
We are working together across Sussex to design a “whole system approach” to the mental health and emotional wellbeing pathway of care for young people (aged 16-25) – supporting their transition into adulthood and adult services or support.
The work focuses on improving transitions, early intervention and prevention, with evidence-based initiatives.
To find out more click here.
Watch young people reflecting on the 2023 summit here:
Youth Summit 2022
Around 90 people from in and around Sussex came together for the Sussex Youth Mental Health Summit event held on 16 June to pledge their support and help develop ambitions around community-based emotional wellbeing and mental health youth interventions for 16-25 year olds.
Representatives for the education, voluntary, community sector, children’s social care, local authorities, Integrated Care System, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, as well as young people themselves, attended at the Sussex Youth Mental Health ‘call to action’ Summit, in Brighton, to find ways to change and help reform mental health and wellbeing services for young people.
The event, co-ordinated by Health Innovation KSS, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) and was co-facilitated by young people from Varndean School in Brighton.
Find out the outcomes from the 2022 summit here.
Click here to see the full-size image of the visual minutes of the 2022 Youth Summit.
CYP Digital Mental Health
Health Innovation KSS in partnerships with YMCA Downslink group worked with young people from across Sussex to make recommendations aimed at improving digital mental health services in a new report.
Find out more here
New training programme
Building on the recommendations made in the 2021 CYP Digital Mental Health Review, e-wellbeing (YMCA DownsLink Group), Health Innovation KSS and Unity Insights have developed a new Digital Mental Health Communications Training Programme. The course provides an overview of digital communications channels, how to engage children and young people via digital channels, and diversity and inclusion best practice associated with digital communications.
Funded by Health Education England, this training was attended by the Sussex children and young people’s workforce and delivered by e-wellbeing staff and Youth Ambassadors; young people aged 16-25 who are passionate about youth mental health and wellbeing.
Visit the YMCA Downslink e-wellbeing website to download the full evaluation report, training toolkit and supporting resources.
Whole School and College Approach
A review and evaluation of the whole school approach to mental health in schools and colleges delivered by Health Innovation Kent Surrey and Sussex, University of Sussex, Charlie Waller Trust, and West Sussex County Council, identified concerns about the lack of measures that were in place to evaluate the impact this work was having. As a result, the research team worked with staff and pupils, and in consultation with MHST leads and colleagues from Department for Education and NHS England, to develop a new self-assessment tool for schools and colleges to assess and track the outcomes that could be linked to their WSCA work on mental health and wellbeing.
The Whole School and College Approach (WSCA) Measurement Toolkit help schools and colleges measure and self-assess the impact of their whole school and college approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Find out more and access the toolkit here.
Surrey CYP Roadshow
Health Innovation KSS, NIHR Kent Surrey and Sussex Applied Research Collaborative (ARC KSS), Surrey Heartlands ICS (SyH) and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SaBP) came together to plan and put on a roadshow, to highlight the priorities for Children and Young People in Surrey and shine a light on the art of the possible when it comes to innovation in health and care.
Find out more about the work here
Improving Student Mental Health
Health Innovation KSS and representatives from across health services, higher education sector and students have come together to discuss ways to improve local students’ wellbeing and mental health.
Find out more about the outcomes of this programme here
Meet the Team
Becca Randell
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Implementation Lead – Starting Well (Children’s Mental Health)
Sam Fraser
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Implementation Lead, Primary and Community Care
Ursula Clarke
Patient Safety Lead - Kent, Surrey & Sussex Patient Safety Improvement Programmes