Understanding and responding to children and young people’s mental health challenges

Nurse speaking to a young girl

Identify the skills and knowledge you will need to recognise and refer children who have problems affecting their mental health. This publication will also help nurses who provide care in acute hospitals by providing insights into the more common mental health problems, in addition to facilitating the development of local guidelines.

Search: 

Resource
Available to everyone

Who is this publication for?

This publication has been created to assist those nurses who are not mental health specialists, who work with children and young people in a community, hospital, school, and other settings.

What will this publication give me?

  • overview of mental health disorders in children and young people today
  • what nurses should know – local referral protocols to services
  • Health and Social Care Act 2012 – understanding the parity of esteem
  • advice on diagnosing children and young people with mental health disorders
  • definition of good mental health, mental ill health, risk and protective factors
  • information on promoting good mental health
  • factors that can increase the risk of mental health problems in children and young people developing or being sustained
  • concepts of mental illness and the understanding of the origins of children’s emotional and behavioural difficulties
  • the importance of successful interaction, active listening and communication
  • useful websites and signposting to organisations across the UK.

Resource last reviewed

14 Dec 2022

Resource lead

The RCN delivers quality-assured and up-to-date resources for the nursing workforce. Reviewed annually in line with the RCN Quality Assurance policy, all RCN Learn resources meet the RCN’s Nine Quality Standards.