Aylesbury charity backs calls for more support for children's mental health services

A record number of children and young people in England have sought mental health support, according to new analysis.

In just three months, almost 200,000 youngsters were referred to mental health services - nearly double pre-pandemic levels.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said that the figures show that the pandemic is taking its toll on children and young people.

The College analysed NHS Digital data on mental health referrals for children and young people aged 18 and under.

It found that between April and June this year, 190,271 children aged 18 and under were referred to children and young people's mental health services - almost twice the number referred during the same period in 2019 when 97,342 were referred.

Urgent referrals had also risen steeply.

Twice as many children now seeking support

From April to June in 2019, 5,219 children and young people were referred for urgent support. This rose to 8,552 in 2021, the College said.

At the end of June, a total of 340,694 people were in contact with children and young people's mental health services - a rise from 225,480 in June 2019.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said that early help for youngsters is "key to recovery'' as it called on newly appointed Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to prioritise children and young people's mental health.

The College said that schools should have plans in place to respond to pupils' mental health needs.

And there must be an increase in investment in staff training to improve the roll-out of Mental Health Support Teams, it added.

Local services are seeing the impact first hand.

Hannah Asquith is Chief Executive of Youth Concern, an Aylesbury Vale based charity that support 13-25 year olds:

"It's exacerbated the existing pressures and has created new more complex ones. So many services went to ground or went under that there are fewer of us about now.

"The phone is ringing off the hook here at Youth Concern with children, or people ringing on their behalf asking for support.

"We were very lucky to get a grant from the Rothschild Foundation, and further one from the National Lottery to support bringing on 2 additional members of staff but this isn't enough and not all organisations have been able to do that.

"The most important this of all though is that children and young people are still asking for help.

"We will scrabble around and find them that help, and get it to them as fast as possible. It might be you call someone who can't help you but they can signpost somewhere.

"Its so important although services may see rising numbers the help is still asked for."

"Early intervention is key to recovery"

Dr Elaine Lockhart, chair of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:

"These alarming figures reflect what I and many other frontline psychiatrists are seeing in our clinics on a daily basis.

"The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the nation's mental health, but it's becoming increasingly clear that children and young people are suffering terribly.

"Early intervention is key to recovery. Schools have a critical role to play in this and the Education Secretary must do all that he can to prioritise pupils' mental health.

"Children's mental health services must also be properly funded and properly staffed if we are to treat the ever-growing number needing mental health care. Without investment we run the risk of many more needing crisis help.''

Resources

If your child is struggling with their mental health, here are some free apps that could help...

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