Understanding and supporting mental health challenges in neurodiverse girls
“Many young people, for completely understandable reasons, have difficulty trusting mental health services. That’s really core to our work. We take the time to understand each person as a whole and build that trust.” - Dr Rhiannon Lewis, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at South London and Maudsley
The South East London (SEL) Vanguard Clinical Hub, part of National and Specialist CAMHS, is a small multi-disciplinary team working in partnership with local authorities and voluntary, community sector and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across our four boroughs.
Based at the Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People in Denmark Hill, the team provides access to mental health support for children and young people from marginalised communities who are at risk of being affected by or involved in violence, crimes and dangerous situations.
At the heart of the service is a commitment to reaching those who are often underserved by traditional mental health pathways. By supporting young people up to the age of 21, the team can continue working with those who might otherwise lose access to services once they are 18.
Recognising patterns in referrals
In partnership with Juvenis and Project Yana, two black-led community organisations in Brixton, the SEL Vanguard Team has been working to ensure that children and young people receive the support they need in ways that work for them.
Recently, Dr Rhiannon Lewis, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the SEL Vanguard Team, presented alongside Jenni Steele, from Juvenis and Project Yana at the European Conference for Forensic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology.
Working together, both identified a clear overrepresentation of neurodiverse girls and young women among those accessing support. In some cases, neurodiversity has already been recognised before referral, while in others it was identified during their time with the service.
Supporting neurodiverse girls and women
Many girls with neurodiverse needs can be misunderstood by services, making traditional mental health support difficult to access. This challenge can be even greater for young women from the global majority, including Black African, British and British Caribbean communities.
Dr Lewis said:
“In the past, a lot of our focus has been on how autism and ADHD present in boys, and most people will acknowledge that there has been a lack of understanding in how this can present in girls.”
To address this, the SEL Vanguard Team, Juvenis and Project Yana focus on meeting young people and their families where they are, building relationships and trust before progressing through more formal pathways.
Rather than following a highly structured clinical approach from the outset, our service prioritises safety, wellbeing and understanding each young person’s individual circumstances.
Jenni Steele, Founder of Project Yana said:
“After ten years of working with girls at high risk of harm, I’ve learned that healthy relationships, education, personal development and early intervention can change the trajectory of a young person’s life."
"We cannot wait until neurodivergent girls become visible in crisis. The real work is seeing them early, hearing them often, and investing in the partnerships that help them thrive long before harm ever has the chance to find them.”
This person-centred approach can make a significant difference to how young people engage with support.
One young person who worked with the team shared:
“Most people that I am around, when I say certain things or speak my mind, I look at them and I think that they are judging me. But when I speak to Rhiannon, I can look at her, and she is not giving that energy. She is always down to earth.”
This approach helps young people feel seen, heard and supported, allowing them to engage with services in a way that feels authentic and meaningful. Instead of feeling like ‘another case’ they are treated as individuals with unique experiences, strengths and needs.
Looking ahead
Dr Lewis believes there is still more work to be done to improve understanding of neurodiversity among girls and young women, particularly those from the global majority who often face additional barriers to accessing appropriate support.
She said:
“Young girls often get missed on multiple levels, so anything we can do to increase awareness among schools, social workers and mental health professionals about how neurodiversity might present differently in different groups is incredibly valuable.”
By continuing to work alongside trusted community organisations and adapting support to meet the needs of young people, the SEL Vanguard Team is helping to ensure that those who have historically been overlooked can access the care, understanding and opportunities they need to thrive.
To find out more:
Visit Service Detail- South London and Maudsley
Read this leaflet to learn more about the service
Learn more about Juvenis here
Find out more about Project Yana here