More children being referred to mental health services
The number of children and young people referred to mental health services in the county has increased significantly, according to new figures.
The Children’s Commissioner is urging the Government to introduce an NHS-funded counsellor for every school among fears that thousands of children are being left without support.
NHS digital data shows that in 2019-20, 3,265 under-18s were referred to mental health services across NHS Shropshire CCG.
This was a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, when 2,435 children were referred.
During 2019-20 in Telford & Wrekin, 2,580 under-18s were referred – a 15 per cent increase on the 2,240 the previous year.
However, children are waiting less time to access treatment in both Shropshire and Telford. The average number of waiting days has fallen from 29 to 18 in Shropshire and from 26 to 17 in Telford & Wrekin.
Of the total number of children referred to mental health services in Shropshire, 1,010 were seen within six weeks – however 75 children had to wait longer than 12 weeks.
There were also 1,070 children who saw their referral being closed before treatment.
These children may not have required specialist treatment, they may have been referred to services funded by non-NHS organisations or chosen not to enter treatment.
The data provided does not specify why a referral was closed.
For Telford & Wrekin 925 were seen within six weeks – with 80 children waiting longer than 12 weeks.
A total of 735 children saw their referral being closed before treatment.
The Children’s Commissioner says there is a lack of ambition in improving children’s mental health services, despite numerous Government announcements.
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, said: “Even before the Covid pandemic, we faced an epidemic of children’s mental health problems in England and a children’s mental health service that, though improving significantly, was still unable to provide the help hundreds of thousands of children required.
Vital
“The Government’s plans must include a rocket boost in funding for children’s mental health, to expand services and eliminate the postcode lottery.
“As an absolute minimum, all schools should be provided with an NHS-funded counsellor, either in school or online.”
The data also shows that NHS Shropshire CCG spent around £50 per child on mental health services, and Telford & Wrekin CCG £65 – the national average is £66.
Across England, 538,564 under-18s were referred to mental health services in 2019-20, 35 per cent more than the previous year.
Councillor Judith Blake, chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “The pandemic has exacerbated existing mental health problems, particularly for children living in families with lower incomes and whose parents may be experiencing financial difficulties.
“Local councils have a vital role in helping children have mentally healthy childhoods and mental health needs to be at the heart of a holistic approach to overall health and wellbeing.
“Supporting children early on to reduce the need for clinical interventions means more can receive help when they need it, rather than waiting until they are unwell.
“It is vital that effective and evidence-based mental health and wellbeing services and statutory mental health services for children are able to meet existing, new and unmet demand that has built up during the pandemic.”
