Susan Metcalfe, Senior Senior Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust

During this time Susan has worked with young people with depression and anxiety disorders offering low intensity evidence-based treatment.

Our 60-second interview with Susan:

Could you please tell us what work you do in the field of mental health?

As a Senior CWP, I have helped develop a new form of Behavioural Activation alongside offering the training and supervision of this new treatment. I also hold a clinical caseload and work within the CAMHS Single Point of Access Team to ensure young people have opportunity to take part in research.

What do you find most rewarding and inspiring in this work?

Being able to work with children and young people in preventing serious mental health conditions from arising in the future. I love to work with the young person and their family to provide support and skills for life.

What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of this work?

It is difficult to see the impact depression has on a young person’s life, and their family. Conditions such as depression can be very debilitating, and it is important that a mental health professional also look after their own mental health and wellbeing.

What impact do you hope your work is having - or can potentially have?

I hope that in time there is more access to low intensity evidence-based interventions for children and young people, but in particular through their primary and secondary education.

Could you share with us one piece of advice that you follow for your own mental health?

To get outdoors, even if that’s just sitting in the garden. Being outdoors makes you feel present.