GOSH Charity-funded drop-in clinic improves mental health and quality of life

Children with long-term physical health conditions are more likely to struggle with their mental health compared to their peers. A drop-in mental health service, funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity), is helping to ensure they get the support they need.

The drop-in centre, named ‘Lucy Booth’ after the popular Peanuts comic character, was first piloted at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in 2019. In the comics, Lucy sets up a psychiatric booth where she gives advice to other characters.

It was then rolled out to six other children’s hospitals and hospitals with children’s services across England as part of a study to determine its effectiveness and accessibility.

The results of the study, which included 120 families, were published in the BMC Health Services Research journal last month during Mental Health Awareness Week. The findings were incredibly positive, showing the Lucy Booth helped to improve mental health symptoms and quality of life for the children and young people who accessed it.

Around 25% of children and young people in England are living with a long-term physical health condition, which can have a big impact on their everyday life. They are more likely to develop mental health problems compared to their peers without long-term physical health conditions, and their families’ and caregivers’ mental health is also impacted .

However, due to the complexity of their needs, this group of children and young people often struggle to access the right mental health support at the right time. Rapid, timely access to support can prevent longer-term mental health problems, as well as improving physical health, overall wellbeing and quality of life for children, young people and their families.

The Lucy Booth was set up to provide instant access to mental health support for patients and families when they need it most. Within two weeks of either self-referring or being referred by their care team to the drop-in booth, patients and their families received an initial assessment, followed by either an intervention, such as low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy, referral to other mental health services or signposting to support groups and charities.

The drop-in service made a big difference in improving mental health symptoms and quality of life for patients at GOSH and the six other hospitals.

This benefit extended to the psychological wellbeing of parents and caregivers, who reported lower levels of depression and anxiety. The drop-in service model was also very cost-effective, costing just half the amount per patient than a typical course of psychological therapy.

The Lucy Booth successfully empowered children, young people and their families to improve their mental health and wellbeing, reduced stigma around mental health and engaged those who were unable to access help previously.

Roz Shafran, Emeritus Professor of Translational Psychology at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, was a principal investigator on the project.

“We are delighted that our research has demonstrably made a practical difference to children and their families, and that its impact has been sustained in some of the participating hospitals as part of routine service delivery,” she says.

“It's a clear example of how research can translate into real-world impact, improving outcomes and experiences for young people facing complex health challenges.”

The Lucy Booth project shows the real impact that creative thinking and innovative ideas can have in improving the lives and wellbeing of seriously ill children – and helping kids be kids. The team behind the Lucy Booth were recognised for their work at the British Medical Journal Awards, winning the Mental Health Team of the Year Award in 2021.

Aoife Regan, GOSH Charity's Director of Impact and Charitable Programmes, said: "It's wonderful to see the positive influence that offering mental health support at the time of need can make to patients and their families with chronic health conditions. Here at GOSH Charity, we are proud to have funded such an impactful project that begins to address the barriers in access to mental health treatment for children and young people across the country.”