Hafal, Wales' leading charity for people with serious mental illness and their carers, will this week hold a seminar at the Media Resource Centre in Llandrindod Wells entitled: Growing Up and Serious Mental Illness: A seminar to consider children's and young people's experience of serious mental illness up to the age of 25.

Hafal Chief Executive Bill Walden-Jones says the aim of the seminar is: "To take a fresh approach to a complex subject by listening to first-hand accounts from individuals who have experienced serious mental illness in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, and by hearing from those involved in planning and delivering their care and support."

Growing Up and Serious Mental Illness will:

• Identify the key issues in both early and later onset of serious mental illness in children, adolescents and young adults.

• Agree an action plan striking a balance between maintaining children and adolescents wherever possible in mainstream services while at the same time ensuring the availability of appropriate and timely care and support when serious problems arise.

Key Participants in the seminar include:

• Dr Mike Shooter CBE, Chair, Young Minds and Children in Wales, past President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and former Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Gwent HealthCare Trust.

• Professor Richard Williams OBE TD, Professor of Mental Health Strategy, Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care, University of Glamorgan.

• Professor Richard P Bentall, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Bangor University.

• Dr David Williams, CAMHS Professional Advisor to the Welsh Assembly Government.

• Julie Edwards, Policy Officer, The Children's Commissioner for Wales.

• Sonja Hookway, Mental Health Coordinator, Swansea University.

• Chris Eastwood, Hafal Trustee with experience of serious mental illness.

• Collette Dawkin, Hafal Trustee with experience of serious mental illness.

• Lee McCabe, Hafal Recovery Practitioner with experience of serious mental illness.

• Young people with relevant experience of mental health problems.

As well as bringing service users together with key agencies Growing Up and Serious Mental Illness will also feature a series of interactive workshop sessions which will focus on developing solutions to specific issues including: equipping mainstream (non mental health) children and adolescent services to support young people with serious mental health problems and developing flexible, person-centred services (CAMHS and Adult Mental Health) which meet the individual needs of children, adolescents and young people up to the age of 25.

Hafal is currently developing services aimed specifically at children and young people which we will be launched during the event. These include:

• A National Young People's Lead.
• A Young People Information Hub.

Hafal will use the information and ideas shared during the day to:

• Publish an action plan aimed at improving the availability, quality and effectiveness of services supporting children and young people in Wales who experience serious mental illness.

• Publish guidance for young people and young people's organisations.

• Inform our ongoing work with children and young people.

Growing Up and Serious Mental Illness will be held at The Media Resource Centre, Llandrindod Wells on Thursday May 13th 2010.