Priory opens new ward for children and teenagers with mental health issues at Roehampton Hospital

A new ward for children and adolescents with mental health issues has opened at the Priory’s world-famous Roehampton Hospital.

The ward, which follows an investment of nearly £1m and creates 20 new local jobs, will help address the shortage of mental health treatment options for a group which struggles most: teenagers.

Roehampton Hospital as a whole has undergone a £6m refurbishment since 2018 and is rated as ‘good’ throughout by the Care Quality Commission.

The adolescent mental health epidemic is escalating – amid concern that social media, education pressures and family breakdown are fuelling a growing mental health crisis among younger generations – and the NHS’s emergency departments are inundated with young patients experiencing mental health crises.

Parents struggle to find treatment, and families looking for intensive therapy and round-the-clock care often worry because they can’t find the right treatment.

The new ward is a much-needed resource for young people, a safe environment where the team aims to build a rapport with each young person and to support them through treatment and recovery.

It will treat a range of conditions including depression, anxiety, self-harming, school phobia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, among other conditions.

Dr Hamilton McBrien, child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical director for specialist NHS services at Roehampton, said: “The ward is going to make a significant difference to people’s experience of treatment at a time when they are feeling most vulnerable.

“Over half of all mental health disorders start before the age of 14. Accessing treatment and care early can significantly help a person’s recovery. Our team are proud to be involved in the opening of a new ward for private patients, allowing more young people fast access to appropriate mental health treatment, care and support.”