As one of the leading children's hospitals in the country, the welfare of young people is at the heart of everything we do. At Alder Hey we care for hundreds of thousands of children and young people - and their families - every year and we are immensely proud of that. But we also feel passionately that for every child to thrive it is vital that we support their mental health as much as their physical well-being.
That is why we are building a state-of-the-art Mental Health and Community Hub at Alder Hey as part of our Campus in the Park, right next door to our world-renowned hospital, ensuring children and young people receive essential mental health support as soon as they need it.
The NHS has already funded the bricks and mortar needed to build the hub, featuring two amazing child-focussed centres - one for outpatients and one for those who need inpatient care. Alder Hey Children's Charity needs to raise £3m to fund enhancements to the hub - or as we like to call them - the magic! All the extras that help create an amazing environment for children to heal. Everything from games and toys to sofas and softly lit study areas - everything to make it feel like a home from home. The great news is we are over halfway there! We just need help to get us over the line!
Even before the COVID crisis we were seeing an increase in demand for mental health services, but referrals have continued to increase and the legacy of COVID on our young people will be long lasting. If ever there was a time for a world-class Mental Health Hub designed with the needs
of children and young people in mind it is now.
Our incredible new Mental Health Hub will transform the lives of many young people and you are key to helping them. See the progress video below.
7 in 10 children do not access the support they need early enough. By developing the facilities and services needed, Alder Hey can change the future of children’s mental health, helping to build a brighter future for children and young people.
This is Lydia. She was almost 16 when she was referred into community mental health services after visiting her GP, presenting with worries and behaviours that were constantly escalating. These behaviours made her feel very isolated, anxious and fearful. An appointment with a mental health practitioner and psychiatrist followed where Lydia began medication in order to get her to a point where she could then access talking therapies. She was diagnosed with OCD, anxiety and depression. Lydia says the diagnosis was a relief to her and marked the start of a long recovery. She believes she will always live with OCD but doesn’t believe her 
diagnosis controls her. Lydia says she has learnt ways to live a more normal life, and was so inspired by her experiences at Alder Hey that she has now started training as a paediatric nurse, with a placement at Alder Hey. Read Lydia's Story
Our Appeal launched in Spring 2020 headed by Appeal Ambassador Shirley Ballas - read more now.
Click on the videos below to hear from Lydia - and to meet some of our amazing Mental Health clinicians.
Our new Mental Health and Community Hub is coming along nicely thanks to the support of our wonderful donors!
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