A mental health service for children, young people and their families called ECHO (standing for Every Child Heard and Offered support), has launched today across Warwickshire.
ECHO will provide earlier support and improved access to community-based mental health care. Designed to help children and young people get the right support before difficulties escalate, the service is available for young people up to the age of 18, and up to 25 for those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
ECHO will support children and young people experiencing lower-level mental health and emotional wellbeing challenges, including:
- Feeling anxious or worried
- Struggling with stress or low mood
- Having friendship or school difficulties
- Finding emotions difficult to manage
- Needing coping strategies and early support
Support available through ECHO may include counselling, advice and guidance, consultation support for parents and professionals, and signposting to other services such as bereavement support.
The service is funded by Warwickshire County Council (WCC) in partnership with NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and is delivered by Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind (CWW Mind). As part of the ECHO service, CWW Mind is also working in partnership with Guardian Ballers, the Anna Freud Centre, Relationships Coventry and Warwickshire, and Lifespace Trust to give children and their families greater flexibility and choice in the support they receive.
From today, it will be easier for families to access early mental health support as children, young people and their carers can easily self-refer to ECHO online or over the phone. Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) Children and Young People's Services – Mental Health (previously known as Rise) will continue to provide specialist mental health services for children and young people with more complex needs.
Councillor Anne-Marie Sonko, Warwickshire County Council Portfolio Holder for Social Care and Health, said:
"The launch of ECHO is an important milestone in our commitment to our Child Friendly Warwickshire ambitions to ensure every child and young person is happy, healthy and heard, enabling them to have safe and strong childhoods.
"By making it easier to access support at an earlier stage, we can help young people and families get the help they need sooner and prevent challenges from becoming more serious.
"We will continue to work closely with our mental health partners at CWPT and CWW Mind to ensure families, carers, schools, professionals and communities understand the support available and know how to access it."
Alethea Balbuena, Deputy CEO and Director of Services at CWW Mind, said:
"We are proud to be launching ECHO and supporting children, young people and their families across Warwickshire.
"If you have noticed a change in a young person's behaviour, mood or physical health, or they are becoming withdrawn, frustrated or struggling to cope with everyday life, ECHO can help them develop coping strategies that work for them.
"By providing support at the earliest opportunity, ECHO will help prevent difficulties from worsening and reduce the number of children, young people and families reaching crisis point and requiring more complex support."
Anyone can access support from ECHO for a child or young person. Tel: 02476 631835 (lines are open Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm and Friday 9am to 4pm) or visit www.echosupport.org.uk.
For families that want to understand more about ECHO and the mental health support available for young people in Warwickshire, read the Frequently Asked Questions at www.echosupport.org.uk/faqs/.