It’s been incredibly special to be involved in the journey of Dorset’s new HIE for young people from the very beginning through to its opening.
I’ve also been involved in interviewing a range of staff, from support workers to Speech and Language Therapists, helping to ensure young people’s voices were part of the recruitment process.
Before planning permission was approved, my mum and I were also interviewed by the local news to share why this project mattered so much and the difference we believed it could make to young people’s lives. Seeing those plans eventually become a reality has been incredibly meaningful.
Being invited to cut the ribbon at the opening meant so much to me. It wasn’t just about opening the building, it felt like recognition that my lived experience and contributions throughout the project had been genuinely valued. Afterwards, I also had the opportunity to speak on local radio about the opening and what this new environment means for young people in Dorset.
As someone with lived experience of mental health services, being trusted to contribute at every stage has reinforced just how valuable co-production can be. When organisations listen to the people who have experienced services first hand, they create environments that are more compassionate and better equipped to meet the needs of the young people who will use them.
I feel incredibly privileged to have been involved in this project from the very beginning. I hope this new environment helps ensure more young people can access the care they need closer to home, in a space that has been shaped with their voices in mind. I’m also looking forward to continuing to support the ward and the young people who will access it.
Read more about the opening of the Seastone unit, located in Bournemouth and providing 24-hour inpatient care for 13 to 18-year-olds with severe mental health illness.