Mental Illness in Children & Young People

An increasing number of children and young people are accessing services for the treatment and management of a range of mental health disorders. The risk of not addressing problems in childhood due to inadequate service provision poses a significant risk of mental illness that continues well into adulthood. There is inconsistent and grossly outdated data on the prevalence of common mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, conduct disorders, ADHD and eating disorders amongst others. The Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Taskforce was set up in 2014 to tackle some of the current problems and inadequacies in service provision, access to care, training of specialists professionals and to ensure consistency in the delivery of services across the UK. It also promotes the cohesive approach that is much needed between the various levels of service so that children and young people are better supported and effectively treated at a critical time of need. The range of NICE Guidelines have also been revised and updated to reflect recent changes in services in addition to other care organisations and charities which provide help, information, support and advice to sufferers and parents alike as well as professionals who work with children and young people but who are not mental health specialists. However, the recent Government funding of £1.25billion to make improvements in CAMHS by 2020/21 is yet to be realised and runs contrary to the £35million cut in funding for CAMHS with 28% of children referred for specialists treatment in 2015 not receiving it.

You can read the full article here: Mental Health in Children & Young People PHC 2017

Article Reference: PHC February 2017; 27(1): 35-41. 

Primary Health Care Journal is a Royal College of Nursing Publication