Call Comes After Figures Reveal 60% Of Young People Missing Out On Care

Parents are being left to try and look after their mentally ill children because of failings in the care system, specialist lawyers have warned.

Irwin Mitchell has called on health bosses to ensure children and young people receive the help they need after NHS data revealed 60 per cent of people referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) by their GP were not receiving care. 

Figures obtained also show that the number of under-18s admitted to A&E after incidents of self-harm had increased by 50 per cent in five years. Of those around 77 per cent of A&E or hospital admissions for incidents such as poisoning, cutting or hanging were among girls.

The figures from 32 NHS Trusts for between 2010 and 2016 were obtained by children’s charity Spurgeons.

The charity has launched a new service - called FISH – for young people who have self-harmed but do not qualify for mental health support services.

Expert Opinion

Sadly we have seen the devastating outcomes which can arise when children and young people with mental health issues are not given adequate care and support. All too often parents are left to cope on their own with a child who is struggling with their mental health.

“It is essential that these families are supported, so that they can help and care for their child. Whilst there has been a large improvement in the number of GPs recognising signs of mental illness and making the necessary referrals, it is unacceptable that these high-risk and vulnerable young people are then not receiving the treatment which they desperately need.” Julie Lewis - Partner

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