Demand outstripping capacity for children’s mental health service

A CHILD as young as nine was among those who presented at emergency departments in the Western Trust with suicidal thoughts, according to new figures.

Relating to Altnagelvin, South West Acute and Omagh hospitals, statistics showed that there was an 11 per-cent rise compared to the year previous, for young people aged 18 and under attending with serious mental health issues.

Between March 2020 and February 2021, 527 children – 102 of whom were aged 14 and under – attended emergency departments with mental health issues.

This figure was up from 473 children – 67 children aged 14 and under – from the year before.

The Trust has this week acknowledged that, since Covid restrictions were eased, they have seen a rise in the number of children and young people being referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

Sarah McGee, who is head of service at CAMHS, said, “The Western Trust Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) has continued to witness a significant rise in referral rates since 2016/17. The service would wish to acknowledge that referrals rates fell significantly during the first Covid lockdown, however, rates have continued to rise since restrictions have eased.

“The referral demand continues to outstrip service capacity. Currently, the service has 536 young people on its waiting list. Whilst the service meets regional access targets with respect to emergency (within 24 hours) and urgent referrals (within five days) it has consistently missed regional targets of nine weeks wait for routine choice appointment.”

She continued, “Acknowledging the current waiting times and our determination to support young people, the CAMHS team have progressed a waiting list initiative offering new choice appointments. Waiting times remain under regular robust scrutiny and monitoring by the service senior management team, Trust and HSCB.”

ADDITIONAL FUNDING

She said “additional funding” has been secured to support “staffing recruitment and progression of the development of the service over the forthcoming years.”

Commenting, DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Deborah Erskine said the figures were “concerning but not surprising”.

Mrs Erskine, who sits in the Stormont Assembly’s Health Committee remarked, “We know the pandemic has had a devastating impact on mental health, but these issues predate Covid and are not solely a result of it.”

She added, “There is a real need for investment into Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services. There has been a steady increase in demand which has not been met by a similar increase in the workforce. I know from many cases raised with me the pressure that staff are under, with too few people trying to cope with record levels of demand.”