A programme supporting young people with complex social issues
attending A&E is to be expanded.
The Youth Navigators programme, delivered by Medics Against
Violence, supports young people aged 12-16 arriving at Emergency
Departments who are in distress. The service provides trained
youth workers – Youth Navigators - to identify the help young
people need and provide practical support so they can access
relevant longer-term support.
The initiative has supported more than 600 young people since
2021 – most had experienced issues with their mental health and
wellbeing; some on a chronic basis related to issues at home,
with friend groups or bullying, and some more acutely
experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings and who may have
caused harm to themselves.
Scottish Government funding of £64,000 will allow the expansion
of the service to University Hospital Wishaw and a pilot of the
Youth Navigator programme in schools.
Mental Wellbeing Minister said:
“I am pleased to announce additional funding to pilot the
expansion of the Youth Navigator programme to University Hospital
Wishaw and to pilot a new Youth Navigator approach by partnering
with Taylor High in New Stevenson in Lanarkshire to place Youth
Navigators in their school. Since the Youth Navigator programme
started in mid-2021 it has supported over 600 young people.
“This additional support for the programme is in addition to the
substantial investment we are already making to improve the
mental health and wellbeing support provided to children, young
people and their families in Scotland.
“This funding is the result of the Scottish Government listening
to children, young people and families and taking direct action
in the areas where they have told us more support is needed.
Ensuring that all children and young people can get the right
mental health and wellbeing support at the right time is a key
priority for this government as our continued record investment
in this area goes to show.”
Co-Director and founder of Medics Against Violence, Professor
Christine Goodall said:
“We are delighted to receive funding from the Scottish Government
to pilot the expansion of the Youth Navigator programme. The
youth work approach that the Youth Navigators take provides young
people with a trusted adult with whom they can discuss their
feelings and through discussing what is most important to them,
put plans in place to support a safer future.
“The expansion of the programme in the hospital setting is much
needed and often requested by hospitals, the new approach of
placing Youth Navigators in the school setting helps to take
prevention further upstream to try and support young people with
any issues they are facing before they get to the crisis point
where they require medical intervention.”
A young person who received support from the programme and does
not want to be identified said:
"I appreciate what the Youth Navigator programme has done for me
- giving me someone to talk to who won't invalidate my feelings
and genuinely help me is something I've always wanted. I am so
grateful to those involved - they really made a difference in my
life."
Background
Medics Against Violence is financially supported by Scottish
Government Community Safety (£267,000) and Scottish Government
health funding (£70,000) in 2023-2024. The Hospital Navigator
programme aims to prevent violence and reduce harm for adults and
young people and is part of the collaborative partnership
activity to help implement the Violence Prevention
Framework for Scotland.
