Recently released NHS figures have revealed a crisis in child mental health services.
Various types of psychiatric disorders are on the rise in younger generations; including anxiety, depression and bipolar disorders, eating disorders, ADHD and disruptive behaviour.
The rationing of mental health support seems to be to blame, with the failings of the specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the spotlight. Pulse have recently reported that a lack of funding, combined with a 40% increase in GP referrals since 2012, has resulted in a rationing of access to help and support. Often only those children who have attempted suicide or are experiencing extremely serious symptoms are considered.
 An increasing number of vulnerable children are, therefore, being refused vital mental health treatment that is recommended by their GP, with roughly two-thirds of GP referrals for child mental health lead to no treatment.
Public ignorance of children's mental is nothing new. Of more than half of all adults with mental health problems diagnosed in childhood, less than half were treated appropriately at the time. The centre of mental health recently reported that, on average, children and young people with mental health difficulties go ten years between first becoming unwell and getting any help. In fact, 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age, according to The Children's Society.
Knock-On Affect On Adults
So what does this mean for the future? Studies have revealed that 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24. As such, the ongoing failure to intervene early will result in more mental health cases, and even more related deaths.
In a world where suicide has become the leading cause of death among men aged 20 to 34 years, with many other age/sex cohorts following a similar trend, mental health is a huge issue.
The first steps towards recovery are always going to be tricky. Those suffering from mental health issues are, by nature, vulnerable. It may be difficult to navigate the minefield of services and legislation associated with care issues.
At Garratts, our COPE team can assure you of empathy and practical advice whilst guiding you through at what can be a very frustrating and worrying time.
Our clients are amongst the most vulnerable people in society, which is why we are dedicated to providing the highest quality of advice and support at all times.
