Children ‘denied mental health support’
BBC News | Hannah Richardson | 28 May 2016
A total of 28% of children referred for mental health support in England in 2015 were sent away without help, some after a suicide attempt, a report says.
The Children’s Commissioner’s review of mental health services also found that 13% with life-threatening conditions were not allowed specialist support.
This group included children who had attempted serious self-harm and those with psychosis and anorexia nervosa.
A government spokesman said no-one should be sent away in need.
The commissioner obtained data from 48 of England’s 60 child and adolescent mental health service trusts.
One trust in north-west England said it focused resources on the most severe cases.
There have been concerns in recent years about the patchy nature of services offered by child and adolescent mental health trusts (CAMHs), with many seemingly unable to cope with local demand.
And school teachers and heads in some areas have highlighted the growing mental health need amongst pupils which are having to be met within schools.
