Published on: 15th February 2021
Staff from Young Minds Matter were lucky enough to be chosen to speak with the Duke of Cambridge as part of national Children’s Mental Health Week.
The call took place on Thursday 4 February with Anita Bird and Odette Rawdon, who both work with children and young people in Grimsby and the surrounding area.
Young Minds Matter, run by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, provides emotional wellbeing and mental health support to children and young people based in North East Lincolnshire.
Anita Bird, Young Minds Matter Crisis and Home Treatment Team Lead, said: “It was an honour to have the opportunity to speak with Prince William. The call went really well and it goes a long way during these times to have such personal recognition for the important mental health work that we do.
“We are really passionate about the service we provide to the children and families in the area and we truly appreciate the efforts of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in shining a light on the importance of mental health.”
Odette Rawdon, Senior Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner for the service added: “It was such a unique opportunity to talk to His Royal Highness. He showed his concern for the future and potential increase in young people needing mental health services following the pandemic.
“We spoke about how we strive for early intervention and prevention and have worked hard to adapt our service early and quickly, so that we were able to continue with our work as ‘normal’ in a safe ‘COVID secure’ way. We agreed that services need to remain accessible and that the continued discussion around mental health is important.
“The Duke of Cambridge also asked about staff wellbeing and how we were all doing. We spoke about some of the challenges staff continue to face but also shared how we are supporting each other and looking out for one another’s wellbeing.
“We would like to thank the Duke of Cambridge again for his engagement in children and young people’s mental health and for his call – he knows he is always welcome to visit us in Grimsby any time!”
You can find out more about Young Minds Matter at www.lpft.nhs.uk/young-people/north-east-lincolnshire/about-us