healthmedicinet

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.

The review, by commissioner Anne Longfield, aimed to cast light on local weaknesses so provision can be improved, and more young people’s needs be met.

The consideration of referrals was also based on complexity and persistence of the condition, it said.

Missed appointments

The average waiting time for those accepted for support ranged from 14 days in a trust in north-west England to 200 days at one in the West Midlands.

More than a third of trusts, around 35%, said they would restrict access to services for children who missed appointments.

However, the report notes that children and young people are known to have difficulty in attending appointments for many reasons.

Ms Longfield said: “Behind the stats are countless stories of children and young people in desperate circumstances not getting the vital support they need.

“I’ve heard of too many children who have been denied access to support or struck off the list because they missed appointments.”

A Department for Health spokesman said: “We have introduced the first-ever mental health access and waiting time standards and are putting a record £1.4 billion into support for young people in every area of the country.

“This investment is just beginning and is creating new joined up plans to improve care in the community and schools to make sure young people get support before they reach a crisis point.”