Improving outcomes for young people with substance use & mental health problems
Young people with substance use and mental health problems are hard to reach and engage in treatment
When compared to those experiencing substance use or mental health problems alone, those experiencing both have greater hospital attendances and admissions, increased self-harm and suicide attempts, relationship difficulties and criminal justice service involvement.
It is important when working with young people that the needs, goals and experiences of those with lived experience are considered.
Our approach involves extensive patient and public involvement and engagement, which ensures that young people will be consulted throughout our programme of research.
Improving evidence base
We know that high numbers of young people are admitted to hospitals in England experiencing substance use and mental health problems.
However, specialist substance use services are underutilised and have limited capacity to care for and treat young people with mental health problems.
The evidence around interventions for substance use in young people is limited, with few randomised controlled trials, therefore, clinical practice relies heavily on guidelines developed for adults.
Lived experience at the heart
We inform the development of practice nationally by engaging young people with lived experience of substance use and mental health problems throughout all stages of the research planning and the work we do. We examine levels of unmet need amongst young people across six localities: the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and York.
Our review of current research, produced in collaboration with those with lived experience, allows us to agree on an intervention which might work in practice. Our definitive trial of the identified intervention evaluates its effectiveness, including the cost implications.
Patient and public involvement and engagement and stakeholder engagement
Our lived experience advisory groups are made up of young people and their carers. They include young people with lived experience of substance use and mental health problems.
The groups span our six integrated care board localities. Carer organisations are helping us identify those with carer experience.
Our key stakeholder group consists of individuals drawn from key services, including addictions, child and adolescent mental health services, criminal justice services, youth services, social services, charities, commissioners and policymakers.
All of these organisations provide insights into care, commissioning and data sources.
Work packages
Core team
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Professor Simon Coulton | Professor of Health Services Research, University of Kent (Theme Lead) |
| Dr Rachel Coleman | Research Fellow and Trial Manager, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research, University of Hull (Theme Coordinator) |
| Dr Hannah Armitt | Clinical Research Psychologist, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust |
| Dr Jo Bell | Reader in Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Trauma and Loss, University of Hull |
| Professor Judith Cohen | Director, Hull Health Trials Unit and Co-director, Centre of Addiction and Mental Health Research, University of Hull |
| Professor Paolo Deluca | Professor of Addiction Research, King’s College London |
| Professor Lina Gega | Professor of Mental Health and Director, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of York |
| Ayisja Moss | Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Co-ordinator, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research, University of Hull |
| Professor Thomas Phillips | Professor of Nursing (Addictions) and Director, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research, University of Hull |
| Alison Sharpe | Public Co-applicant, University of Hull |
| Professor Lesley Smith | Professor of Women’s Public Health, University of Hull |
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