A range of renowned national experts in young people's mental health visited Norfolk last week to share best practice and lead discussions about the future direction of youth services at a special event hosted by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) seminar took place at OPEN on Bank Plain on September 8. It attracted delegates from across the country, as well as NSFT staff and young people with experience of using services and their families.

It provided an opportunity for around 120 people to come together and discuss the future direction of youth mental health services and how best to meet the needs of young people and their families.

The day-long event featured a host of expert speakers, including Dr Duncan Law from the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, Prof Swaran Singh from the University of Warwick, Prof Peter Jones from the University of Cambridge and Dr Nic Yeates and Dr Jon Wilson from NSFT.

Tonia Mihill from local youth charity MAP (Mancroft Advice Project), Polly Ashmore from NHS England and Emily Frith, former advisor to Norman Lamb MP and Director for Mental Health at the Education Policy Institute, completed the line-up.

Dr Tim Clarke, children, families and young people's research development lead at NSFT, said: 'We were incredibly proud to host this seminar, which included a host of renowned national and local speakers and real experts in the field of youth mental health.

'Engaging and informative, the day gave health professionals, researchers and young people and their families and carers the chance to discuss how services are delivered now as well as exploring ways to further improve care in the future.'

The seminar was the last of a series funded by ESRC looking at youth mental health and wellbeing. It was organised by NSFT in partnership with the University of Nottingham, University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, University of Greenwich and Forward Thinking Birmingham.