Darent Valley Hospital launches new service to support young people

This May, the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust looks forward to introducing a new service for young people at Darent Valley Hospital. The hospital, in partnership with Public Health Medway and Kent and Medway CCG, will be welcoming the Emerge Advocacy team to its Emergency Department (ED).

Emerge Advocacy is a charity that provides short-term support to young people aged 10-25 years who find themselves in the ED because they are struggling with self-harm or thoughts of suicide. The team, which sits with young people and offers positive distraction, encouragement and emotional care when they are at their lowest point, aims to help ease their struggles and help them to realise that their mental health does not have to define them.

When the service goes live, the team will initially be available at Darent Valley Hospital for two nights a week, between 7pm and 11pm, with a view to increasing to three nights a week in the near future. The plan is to increase the support available to 6 nights a week when possible.

Going forward, the priority of the Emerge team will shift to focus on young people who are arriving at the hospital for treatment. Referrals for community-based support may still be made by contacting the Emerge team on 07984 008248 or emailing hellodvh@emergeadvocacy.com.

Founder, Joy Wright, said: “Having founded Emerge in the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford in 2016, it has been heartening to see how the work of our incredible team has impacted the lives of so many young people already and we are glad to be able to extend this support to the young people of Dartford and Gravesham. Whilst of course it's our desire that no young person would find themselves in crisis, while young people need support, we are so glad to be there for them to offer a #VoiceOfHope when they need it most.”

Carley Tomlin, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Clinical Nurse Specialist – Lead Nurse for Mental Health, added: “We are really excited to introduce Emerge into the Trust. It will provide our young people with some support during what may be a very difficult, distressing and scary time being in hospital and experiencing and living with mental illness. The volunteers will be able to provide a listening ear, which so many patients will value and benefit from.”

For more information about Emerge Advocacy, visit www.emergeadvocacy.com