Parental mental ill health and substance misuse are factors that can have a negative impact on parenting capacity and often co-exist. Children and young people may be adversely affected by their parent's mental ill health or substance misuse but may also experience difficulties themselves with mental ill health and substance misuse.
Some young people will need to be treated as inpatients under the Mental Health Act, and it is important that these children receive continued support once discharged.
Section 117 of the Mental Health Act places a duty on local authorities and health services to provide services and support when a young person is discharged from hospital. Some of these young people may be unable to return home and may require alternative accommodation; many may need to transfer to adult mental health services.
The Section 117 guidance provides the framework for joint working between CSFH and health services where a young person who is known to CSFH is being discharged from hospital.
The Acute Mental Health Discharge Pathway provides an overview of the actions to be taken to ensure young people continue to receive support on discharge.