Unprecedented surge in children facing mental health crises in England
3 Min Read
An in-depth analysis of NHS data by mental health charity YoungMinds has cast a spotlight on a notable surge in the number of children facing mental health crises in England.
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A child looks through the window of a car stuck in traffic. (AFP)
A recent analysis of NHS data by the mental health charity YoungMinds has revealed a significant increase in the number of children facing mental health crises in England.
The number of urgent referrals for individuals under the age of 18 to mental health crisis teams exceeded 3,500 for the first time in May, marking a threefold surge compared to May 2019. Over the year leading up to March 2023, the total number of urgent referrals to these teams reached 21,555, showing a 46% increase from 2022.
These urgent referrals specifically pertain to children exhibiting severe mental health symptoms that typically require hospitalization for conditions like psychosis, severe self-harm, or suicide attempts.
Alongside the rise in urgent referrals, the NHS data also highlights a significant increase in the number of young people undergoing treatment or waiting for care. In May, there were a staggering 466,250 open referrals to mental health services designed for children and young people (CAMHS).
Laura Bunt, the Chief Executive of YoungMinds, characterized these statistics as indicative of a flawed system and a government seemingly indifferent to the pleas for change voiced by young individuals, as reported by The Guardian.
The release of this data coincided with the introduction of an interim report on the government's major conditions strategy, aimed at enhancing the management of various health conditions. YoungMinds criticized the abandonment of the 10-year mental health plan, asserting that the new strategy falls short of addressing essential requirements.
The urgency of the situation has prompted calls for immediate action. Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, criticized the Conservative government's policies for the inadequacies in mental health services.
Similarly, the Royal College of Psychiatrists' faculty of child and adolescent psychiatry expressed concerns about the impact of the mental health crisis on the well-being of children and young people, attributing the pressure on services to shortages in staffing and resources.
Various stakeholders, including Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner, emphasized the importance of early support for children, highlighting the need for mental health support teams in schools.
The Department of Health and Social Care outlined its efforts to enhance support for children's mental health, including significant investments and the expansion of the coverage of mental health support teams in schools.
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