MENTAL health in children and young people will the subject of a new MA to be launched at Leeds Trinity University in September.

The practitioner-focused course for postgraduate students has been created in response to the recent government strategy outlined in its Green Paper Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision.

This strategy highlights the importance of mental health and wellbeing in order to thrive and achieve. It says one in ten young people has some form of diagnosable mental health condition which presents them with unequal chances which can continue into adulthood.

The new course at Leeds Trinity University is designed to reflect the Government’s commitment to ensuring children, young people and their families get the support they need from the NHS, schools, colleges and local authorities.

Figures from 2016/17 revealed that the average wait for treatment for children and young people with mental health needs was 12 weeks, which the Government have identified as an area where improvement is required to ensure than children and young people can access services faster and benefit sooner.

Bev Peartree, the Course Leader for the new MA said: “I am looking forward to the launch of this course as this is a very new and exciting area of education at postgraduate level and one that many sector specialists have been wanting for a long time.

“The course will be launched before the national strategy is fully implemented in this area, so graduates from this Masters will be the new leaders in this field of work, developing innovative practice in this area of emotional well-being.”

She added: “At Leeds Trinity University we actively promote the principles of dignity, respect, social justice, equality and inclusion to support the health and well-being of each and every person in our university community. The new MA therefore reflects our mission and will help to develop professionals working across different sectors to support children and young people.”

The MA in Mental Health in Children and Young People will equip postgraduate students with the skills, knowledge and understanding to respond to the mental health needs of children and young people and promote positive mental health.

The course is designed for people who want to make a real and practical difference, and students will graduate with the ability to address present and emerging mental health issues.

For more information, email the Course Leader, Bev Peartree at b.peartree@leedstrinity.ac.uk or visit www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/postgraduate.