Hello Paul
I have spoken to the CLIC Social Worker in our team who takes responsibility for the TYAs and who I know runs a very successful informal group. She tells me that she has more young men than young women and the reason may be that the group meets in a pub! She rents a room and has simply facilitated the young people sharing thoughts and experiences with each other. They keep in contact between meetings in the usual way (text/Facebook) and attendance has been good over the 18 months or more that it has been running. Meetings are not frequent (about every couple of months - sorry but I am a bit vague here as the SW in question has just gone on leave and I forgot to check some details). The links made in the group have enabled young people to support each other through relapse etc. and the SW has also been able to draw on individuals to provide support (again via electronic means) for newly diagnosed TYAs.
I hope this is helpful.
Best wishes
Shira
Ms Shira Rub
Registered Clinical Psychologist
Paediatric Oncology, Exeter

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Paul Manning

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 2:29 PM

Subject: TYA Young Men Group

FAO those who work into TYA services

Following a discussion with one of our Youth Support Co-ordinators here in Sheffield, we identified how the majority of young men in our services tend to be very reluctant to engage with other service users and/or professionals (e.g. Social Work, Psychology, Youth Support Co-ordinators) both when an inpatient and also following treatment. We also realised from the few who do re-engage with these services after treatment, that a number of issues are very common - e.g. self image, emotional expression, trauma responses etc.

Compared with young women, it seems more likely for young men to 'drop off the radar' after treatment without the team necessarily being sure if this is an active choice or just circumstance (the young women who do this seem more likely to have expressed their choice in this matter!).

This has raised our thoughts about potentially running groups (or other activities) that may potentially meet an unmet need.

I wondered if there are any of you out there working into TYA services who have found a way of addressing this issue (if indeed you have such an issue?) - I'd be grateful for any advice/thoughts/comments!

Senior Clinical Psychologist

(Paediatric Gastroenterology + Teenage/Young Adult Oncology)

Sheffield Children's Hospital

Dept of Paediatric Psychology

1 Northumberland Road