Clinical resources on RCN Learn

• Explore the range of quality-assured resources and courses we offer related to children.

Children’s Commissioner for England (2023) The state of Children’s mental health services 2021-2022. London: CCfE.

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Centre for Mental health (2023) Children and young people’s mental health: the facts. London: CfMH.

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Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition (2023) Children and young people’s mental health: an independent review into policy success and challenges over the last decade. Local Government Association.

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House of Commons Library (2024) Support for children and young people's mental health (England) (research briefing).

• House of Commons Library briefing on children and young people’s mental health policy.
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National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) (2023) The Inbetweeners: A review of the barriers and facilitators in the process of the transition of children and young people with complex chronic health conditions into adult services. London: Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP).

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Rees H, Reyburn L, Lenaghan M, Jones S (2024) Mental health support for young people: promoting choice, improving access. RCN Learn.

• This RCN Mental Health Forum factsheet was undertaken in collaboration with Mind. The purpose of this resource is to help nurses understand and promote choice in how children and young people can access mental health services.
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Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2024) The role of paediatricians in children and young people’s mental health – position statement.

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Soltan F et al. (2022) Community‐based interventions for improving mental health in refugee children and adolescents in high‐income countries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

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Turner J, Cooper L, Woodward A, Painter J, Day P (no date) Nursing-led interventions to support the psychological and emotional wellbeing of children and young people: a scoping review. RCN Foundation and Sheffield Hallam University.

• This RCN Foundation funded scoping report was undertaken by Sheffield Hallam University.
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We would like to thank the RCN CYP: Preventative Health, Advocacy and Welfare member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.

Bennett S et al. (eds.) (2022) Oxford guide to brief and low intensity interventions for children and young people. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Access through RCN Library

Pavlopoulou G et al. (2024) Improving mental health therapies for autistic children and young people: promoting self-agency, curiosity and collaboration. Oxford: Taylor & Francis Group.

• Access through RCN Library

Laver-Bradbury C, Thompson M J, Gale C and Hooper C (eds.) (2021) Child and adolescent mental health: theory and practice. 3rd edn. London; Routledge.

• Access through RCN library

Nabors L (ed.) (2022) Resilient children: nurturing positivity and well-being across development. Cham: Springer International.

• Access through RCN library

Price J, McAlinden O and Veal Z (eds.) (2024) Essentials of nursing children and young people. 2nd edn. London: Sage Publications.

• Access through RCN Library

Sharp H and Walker L (eds.) (2023) Participation in children and young people's mental health: an essential guide. Milton: Taylor & Francis Group.

• Access through RCN library

Trainor G and Heaslip V (2025) Needs of children and young people living with complex mental health difficulties: why it’s everyone’s business. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

• Access through RCN Library

Yearwood E L, Pearson G S and Newland J A (2021) Child and adolescent behavioral health: a resource for advanced practice psychiatric and primary care practitioners in nursing. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons.

• Access through RCN library

Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on the topic.

• Child mental health

Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.

• Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
• Infant mental health
• Mental health promotion for children
• Suicide and self-harm for children

Journals of interest for children and young people mental health promotion. Use these links to see details of availability.

• BMC Public Health
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
• European Journal of Public Health
• Mental Health Practice
• Nursing Children and Young People

Books on Prescription

• A reading list of expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 13 to 18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams. The books have all been recommended by young people and health professionals, and are available to borrow for free from public libraries.
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NHS England and Health Education England: MindEd: e-learning to support healthy minds.

• MindEd provides free open access online training in emotional and behavioural ‘first aid’ and essential therapeutic skills for all those involved in the mental wellbeing and care of children and young people in the UK. MindEd is developed and supported by a group of multi-disciplinary organisations including the RCN.
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RCN Exhibition: Once Upon a Time... a history of children and young people's nursing exhibition.

• This exhibition explores the history of children and young people’s nursing – from the first children's hospitals to the development of family-centred care today.
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We Can Talk

• This co-produced resource is intended to improve the experience of children and young people who attend hospital due to their mental health. It is relevant to anyone who works in an acute hospital.
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