A “national epidemic” of mental health conditions among children has led to chronic oversubscription of the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), according to a recent report from the Centre for Young Lives and the Child of the North multi-university research programme.
This, in turn, means that children who are at risk of suicide are now being refused places on waiting lists for support, according to the Guardian, with two-thirds of children not directed to any form of interim help and both self-harm and suicide “too familiar” as they wait to be seen.
Referrals for mental health services in England for children and young people have been on the rise since before the global pandemic, climbing from 340,000 in 2017/2018 to 540,000 in 2019/2020.
However, experts are now saying that the combined pressure of the pandemic, lack of support because of a decade of government cuts and spiralling poverty is why the number of children and young people with active referrals rose to 940,000 last year.
Speaking to the Observer, Anne Longfield – founder of the Centre for Young Lives – explained that years of funding cuts have meant that intervention thresholds are now so high that suicidal children are now frequently being turned away in many parts of the country.
She said: “Now, trying to [end your life] is not enough to get mental health support. They ask: ‘Did the child really intend to end their life or not?’ That is such a chilling state to be in. For any family, having a suicidal child is the most terrifying crisis. Often, they hit this terrible brick wall where they can’t get professional help.”
A spokesperson from NHS England said that the health service is now providing mental health support to more children and young people than ever before, with an-above 50 per cent increase since 2019. It is also working to expand provision as quickly as possible within the current five-year funding arrangements.
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