Young people’s experiences of in-patient mental health care: helplines insight briefing

Helplines insight briefing

Publication date February 2024

Young people's experiences of in-Patient mental health care

Mental health is as important to a child’s safety and wellbeing as their physical health.

The experiences of children hospitalised or sectioned for mental health can vary. Listening to the child’s perspective can provide valuable insight for creating a child-centred approach to mental healthcare.

This briefing outlines what young people spoke to Childline about when discussing being sectioned or hospitalised for their mental health.

Key themes include:

admittance to in-patient care, voluntarily or after being sectioned
hospital environment and receiving inadequate support
involvement in own care while in hospital, including discharge decision
the after-effects of having been hospitalised.

Young people’s experiences of in-patient mental health care
Download the briefing (PDF)

“I can’t be in this stupid hospital anymore. I feel like I have no control over anything apart from what I eat and drink. Nobody’s listening to me.”

Girl, aged 17

“My parents put a lot of pressure on me to revise right after I returned from the hospital. And they tell me I might never get a decent job if I keep having these crises, as if I were to blame for them. I feel like anxiety is controlling my life and that I will never achieve my dreams because of my mental health issues. The only thing keeping me going is my friends and Childline.”

Girl, age not disclosed

Citation

Please cite as: NSPCC (2024) Young people’s experiences of in-patient mental health care. London: NSPCC

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