Noticeable Rise in Under-19s Mental Health Treatment under NHS
Posted by Carolyn in News
Recent NHS figures have shown that a record number of young people are being referred to the NHS for treatment of mental health issues. Almost 400,000 young people aged under 19, are being referred in England alone. However, it is likely that these figures have risen so dramatically in recent years as the public become more aware of mental health issues, and more young people are seeking help with mental illness. This has been welcomed by many experts working in the healthcare sector, but greater support is required to manage the increasing numbers of children suffering.
Supporting Young People with Mental Illness
In April 2018, there were a total of 389,727 “active referrals” for people aged 18 or younger this is around 33% higher than the same month in 2016, according to the statistics published by NHS Digital. The number of young people seeking help for conditions such as eating disorders, anxiety and depression is rising, but psychiatrists who specialise in children and young people’s mental health are pleased by the increasing number of referrals, as it means that more people are getting the help they need. However, at present the NHS workforce is not equipped to cope with such a sharp rise in numbers, and greater support is needed to ensure that each and every young person is properly treated.
Dr Bernadka Dubicka, the chair of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“It is great to see that more and more young people are having their mental health problems identified … Mental health is clearly becoming less taboo, and services are becoming more accessible.
“But to treat such a large group, we need a great enough workforce. Current demand is far outstripping supply. Child and adolescent psychiatrists fell by 6.6% between May 2013 and May 2017.”
It is clear there is a need for greater support for children and young people when it comes to both recognising the symptoms of mental health issues and getting them thehelp they need. Here at Medica CPD, we bring specialist children’s health experts to our events, to give you expert insight into how you can make a difference to the lives of children around you. Check out our upcoming events page to see what we have in store.
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