South London: Neurodiverse Girls Mental Health Support Enhanced

August 15, 2026

South London News NHS and Wellbeing Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

South London's SEL Vanguard Clinical Hub is enhancing neurodiverse girls mental health support.

Addressing Gaps in Neurodiverse Girls' Mental Health

The South East London (SEL) Vanguard Clinical Hub, part of National and Specialist CAMHS, operates from the Pears Maudsley Centre in Denmark Hill. This multi-disciplinary team collaborates with local authorities and community organisations.

The team provides mental health support for children and young people up to age 21. This includes those at risk of involvement in violence or crime.

Partnership Drives Targeted Support for Neurodiverse Girls

In partnership with Juvenis and Project Yana, black-led community organisations, the SEL Vanguard Team identified a significant overrepresentation of neurodiverse girls and young women accessing support. This observation was presented at the European Conference for Forensic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology.

Dr Rhiannon Lewis, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the SEL Vanguard Team, stated: "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."

Building Trust and Tailored Care Pathways

Many neurodiverse girls face misunderstandings from services, hindering access to traditional mental health support. This is particularly acute for young women from global majority communities.

The SEL Vanguard Team, Juvenis, and Project Yana prioritise meeting young people and their families in familiar settings. This approach focuses on building relationships and trust before engaging in more formal clinical pathways.

Jenni Steele, Founder of Project Yana, commented: "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."

A young person supported by 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."

Future Focus on Awareness and Accessibility

Dr Lewis emphasised the need for increased awareness among professionals. "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," she said.

The SEL Vanguard Team continues to adapt support to meet the specific needs of young people. This ensures those historically overlooked can access necessary care and understanding.

OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION:

This report is based on official clinical data from South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.

Document: Understanding and supporting mental health challenges in neurodiverse girls | Our blog

Source Link: https://slam.nhs.uk/blog/understanding-and-supporting-mental-health-challenges-in-neurodiverse-girls-5994

Author

South London News NHS and Wellbeing Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

From the corridors of St Thomas' to pioneering local clinics, the South London News NHS & Wellbeing Desk offers comprehensive coverage of our healthcare system. Our editorial staff provide clinical updates, patient success stories, and service analysis, ensuring our readers stay connected to the medical milestones happening in their community.

Every report is produced under the rigorous oversight of a leadership team with decades of experience at Yahoo UK, Metro, and the Daily Mail. By bridging the gap between clinical data and the patient experience, our desk upholds the highest standards of journalistic integrity to provide an accurate, authoritative perspective on the health of our city.