Miss-Delectable
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£1m boost for deaf children
Walsall has been awarded a national contract worth more than £1 million to provide better mental health help and support to deaf children.
The borough has been chosen as part of the Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (DWMHPT) and will be one of four centres in England to take part in the government project.
Anne Marie Carey, the Trust's younger persons service manager, said: "This project started because research showed deaf children were not accessing mental health services, despite the fact that 40 per cent of deaf children have some form of mental health problem.
"It is quite a coup for Dudley and Walsall to be awarded this funding because the National Commissioning Group could have chosen to base the service anywhere in the West Midlands.
"It is excellent news for residents in Walsall because it will mean that these specialist services will be based on their doorstep."
Dr Rob Walker, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, played a leading role in the Trust's bid to be a part of the national deaf service.
He said: "Deaf children are around 1.5 times more likely to develop mental health problems than youngsters who are able to hear.
"During the pilot, we worked to identify and treat deaf children with mental ill health, as well as provide support for other professionals who may come into contact with these children."
The trust will receive £1.2 million funding for the project and joins Trusts in York, London and Taunton delivering the new deaf outreach service.
Walsall has been awarded a national contract worth more than £1 million to provide better mental health help and support to deaf children.
The borough has been chosen as part of the Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (DWMHPT) and will be one of four centres in England to take part in the government project.
Anne Marie Carey, the Trust's younger persons service manager, said: "This project started because research showed deaf children were not accessing mental health services, despite the fact that 40 per cent of deaf children have some form of mental health problem.
"It is quite a coup for Dudley and Walsall to be awarded this funding because the National Commissioning Group could have chosen to base the service anywhere in the West Midlands.
"It is excellent news for residents in Walsall because it will mean that these specialist services will be based on their doorstep."
Dr Rob Walker, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, played a leading role in the Trust's bid to be a part of the national deaf service.
He said: "Deaf children are around 1.5 times more likely to develop mental health problems than youngsters who are able to hear.
"During the pilot, we worked to identify and treat deaf children with mental ill health, as well as provide support for other professionals who may come into contact with these children."
The trust will receive £1.2 million funding for the project and joins Trusts in York, London and Taunton delivering the new deaf outreach service.