At our recent webinar sponsored by Lyra Health, 87% of attendees said in the warm-up poll that colleagues are expressing growing concern about their children’s or young people’s mental health. A further 57% cited difficulty navigating existing services and pathways as the biggest barrier to unlocking access.
With demand at such a high level, it’s no wonder the webinar panel was inundated with questions from the audience.
Here, Dr Catherine Mckinven, Lyra Health’s Clinical Lead Psychologist UK and ROI and Karin Scott, Clinical Case Manager, Lyra Health UK & Ireland, share answers to your questions.
You can access the recording of the webinar here.
Q1: What was the study that Catherine refers to in her introduction / who did it?
The two studies referred to were:
- NHS England , The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023
- The Big Mental Health Report , Mind 2024.
Q2: Can parents access the service of Lyra individually?
Yes, parents can seek support as individuals through their Lyra benefit.
Q3: If I am not wrong, all these case studies feature girls. What do we know about boys these days? How easy will they open up about their struggles?
According to research, girls are more likely to express emotional distress and seek help, talk to friends etc. Boys tend to display behavioural difficulties which often masks underlying emotional distress. This gap widens in adolescence. They are also impacted by societal views around traditional masculine traits which prevents open communication about these difficulties and seeking help.
Q4: But is there a difference between how girls and boys cope with mental health issues?
Yes, boys are more external in terms of behaviour and emotion and so often display anger, aggression etc. Girls experience more internalised thoughts and feelings and so may be more prone to low mood. Hormonal changes impact this as well as social expectations about how these emotions are expressed. For instance, boys may appear less vulnerable.
Q5: In your first case study, were the recommended 8 sessions used or more, as the core 10 score after just 8 sessions is very good
Excellent progress was made. YP had a good relationship with her counsellor and I think that the timing of the support was key.
Q6: Have you seen a rise in reliance on AI chat friends and what are your thoughts about these tools?
This is not something that we’ve noted in our service, but are aware that it has been reported that there is greater utilisation by young people, reaching out to AI chat friends, and this is becoming a trend. The main motivation appears to be related to combatting loneliness and for companionship.
Part of the appeal for both adults and young people using AI companion apps is the draw of a space that is non-judgemental which makes it easier to disclose. AI is still in it’s infancy and while it has scope to be very helpful, we need to be mindful that it doesn’t always mirror the nuances that take place in human interactions and can then create unrealistic expecations as to how human relationships should function.
There needs to be a balance between using AI appropriately and still supporting young people to develop the skills to be able to interact with other humans, which includes navigating the difficulties and challenges with these relationships. The main danger would be when someone becomes over reliant on this form of communication at the expense of other relationships and friendships. In these instances this can lead to further isolation and disconnection from human experience.
Q7: Do you feel that the food children are eating and drinking has contributed to the Mental Health of young people? As brain health and gut health are so closely linked.
Yes loads of research continues to come out about this because of the gut-brain connection suggesting poor diet links to increased chance of anxiety and depression. This is mainly due to lack of specific nutrients needed for brain function. These are found in healthy foods like fruits and vegetables and less in processed foods. Research from the University of East Anglia states that children eating more fruit and vegetables – especially 5 portions a day or more – demonstrated higher mental wellbeing, including ability to concentrate and focus on learning, better mood. You can’t look at this in isolation though as we know there are many variables in the causes of mental health.
Q8: What kind of therapies do you provide?
We provide integrative goal orientated counselling and offer clinically matched care with a therapist best suited to match clinical needs based on our therapeutic assessment.
Q9: My 6 yr old daughter is becoming very anxious, I think it might be more than just usual 6 year old worries. She is so worried about not fitting in and has even said she is ugly or fat. I need to nip this in the bud before it becomes a big issue, where I can I get some advice?
Contact Youngminds.org for resources and you can call their parent helpline on 08088025544. They have opening times on the website. There is also some helpful advice in particular for 6-12 years olds using PACE approaches for parents at riseuk.org.uk.
Please also speak with your GP or school if you are concerned.
If you would like to speak to Lyra regarding any queries relating to the Children & Young Person support, please contact Lyra’s Global Customer Success Manager, Lewis Mode (lmode@lyrahealth.com).
Q10: How does Lyra’s service integrate with existing provision? ie. what’s the next step if people think this is a great service, we want our employer to offer it? What do they need to know to move that forwards?
Our goal is to make integrating Lyra both seamless for your organisation and simple for employees to use, get accustomed to, and champion. We are designed to be a collaborative partner, enhancing your existing wellbeing strategy, not replacing it.
Lyra is designed to function as a collaborative hub within your existing wellbeing ecosystem. We ensure a “no wrong door” approach for employees, making their journey to care smooth and straightforward. Here’s how:
- Collaborative Referral Pathways: We work closely with your organisation to establish clear and confidential referral pathways between Lyra, Occupational Health (OH), Private Medical Insurance (PMI), and any other existing support services. This ensures that if a member’s needs are better served by another part of your benefits package, we can facilitate a warm and seamless handoff.
- Complementary, Not Competitive: We fill the critical gap for accessible, high-quality mental health care. Rather than overlapping, we enhance your current provision by offering an easy-to-access front door for mental health, which can reduce the burden on Human Resources, Occupational Health and Management teams.
- Strategic Communications Partnership: Upon launch, we partner with your team to create a tailored communication plan. Using co-branded tailored materials and targeted messaging, we ensure employees understand the full spectrum of support available to them and how Lyra fits into the wider benefits landscape.
- Informing Overall Strategy: The anonymised insights from Lyra’s reporting provide valuable data that can inform and enhance your overall wellbeing strategy, helping you identify trends and proactively address the needs of your workforce.
What’s the Next Step to Bring Lyra to Your Organisation?
- Facilitate an Introduction: The most effective next step is to connect your Human Resources or benefits leader with Lewis Mode (lmode@lyrahealth.com). We would be delighted to provide them with a tailored demonstration to showcase exactly how Lyra can support your organisation’s unique needs. You can direct them to our website or offer to make a direct email introduction.
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