FAMILIES and carers of children experiencing mental health issues are being urged to attend a unique event.

The innovative listening forum will see health bosses from around the county attend the session to hear the views of parents and carers on the services available for children and teenagers across the area.

It is hoped anyone with experiences of mental health provision available throughout Cumbria will go along to share their own knowledge, gain information and help make suggestions for future working.

So far, leaders from the Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust - the organisation responsible for providing the tier three Children and Adolescents Mental Health Service in Cumbria - have confirmed they will attend the event along with officials working on early intervention programmes from Cumbria County Council.

Representatives from key voluntary bodies in the area, including Mind, are also to be present to talk to parents, as well as local councillors and Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock.

It will be held on Tuesday (29) at Furness Carers, at Hindpool Community Centre, Nelson Street, between 10am and noon.

Michael Cassells, volunteer support worker at Furness Carers, explained he had been moved to organise the first of its kind event to bring families and officials involved in the running of mental health services in Cumbria together in a bid to open up discussion on provision.

Mr Cassells said: “This is a chance for anyone to come along, talk about their experiences and join the discussion about how services could be rolled out in the future.

“Those involved in providing mental health services for children and teenagers, as well as people with wider roles in the community, will be there to listen to what everyone has to say.”

The forum will take place as a result of the Evening Mail's Healthy Young Minds campaign - launched in July - which aims to improve access to mental health provision for young people, provide advice on how to spot the early warning signs of mental health problems and to lobby for fairer funding for children's mental health services.

It has so far featured the stories of parents of children across Barrow and Furness who have been referred to mental health services as well as highlighting concerns for the level of preventative and acute help available across the area.

Mr Cassells added: “We want everyone to benefit from this opportunity which we hope to be able to repeat in six months time to provide some feedback on changes and progress made.”

Anyone who would like more information about the event is asked to call Furness Carers on 01229 822822.