QEQM Hospital creates Hope Box to help young people in crisis

A Hope Box created at QEQM

By Liz Crudgington

Children experiencing a mental health crisis can find some comfort thanks to a special box created by teams at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

The health play specialists in the paediatric emergency department created a ‘hope box’, inspired by suicide prevention charity Papyrus.

Items in the box were funded by East Kent Hospitals Charity and it is designed to help children and young people who are upset, anxious or experiencing thoughts of suicide.

Health play specialist Lauren Clayson said: “The hope box is filled with things that can help children and young people feel better.

“We have included items to capture all five senses, such as stress balls, essential oils, hand cream, modelling clay, conversation cards and calming pictures.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to East Kent Hospitals Charity for the funding and support.”

Jo Williams, head of nursing for urgent and emergency care at the QEQM, said it was part of the package of support available to young people in crisis.

She said: “We have worked to improve how we care for people experiencing mental health difficulties, from dedicated spaces to specialist staff and additional training.

“The hope box is a fantastic initiative and will benefit so many young people, together with the other brilliant work our play specialists do every day with children who are worried or frightened.”

Dee Neligan, senior charity officer from East Kent Hospitals Charity, said: “We were delighted to be able to fund this project.

“The box will make a real difference to the experience of children in the emergency department and we hope other teams will also be able to introduce it soon.”

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4 Comments

  1. They can hope for GP appointments & not to have their procedures & treatments postponed because some nearly 100 year old billionaire monarch passes away, a cold/flu virus circulating, or strike action, but three years & counting.

  2. Steve is right, the whole system is broken – any support for mental health is a bonus, well done them – Treatment for mental health in this area is almost non-existent and what is there is totally unreachable for most.

    • Steve isn’t saying that he is saying…. “Covid was a lie, we should have done nothing”, and moaning about the death of the queen.

      Covid was something and would have unchecked overwhelmed the system. Yes some stuff should have carried on.

      My point is that is nothing to do with a charity working with a play specialist at the local children’s ward to try and help children’s mental health.

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