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Parents and teachers tell of children’s desperate need for mental health support
Warning: This article is about youth suicide and may be distressing for some readers.
The number of young people with severe mental health problems seeking help from the public system is rising fast. But the number getting the help they need is falling. Documents released to the
Herald under the Official Information Act show more than 32,000 children and teens were referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs) last year — about 90 a day.
As the Ministry of Health’s deputy director of mental health Dr Ian Soosay acknowledged New Zealand’s youth suicide rate is “appalling”, parents and teachers told the Herald of their desperation at getting the help they need for children suffering serious mental health conditions.
Dozens of parents said their children were turned away by Camhs because, in the words of one, they “weren’t suicidal enough”.
A South Island primary school principal said eight of her students were waiting for a mental health appointment, but wouldn’t be seen for six months.
Today, the Herald tells the story of Max, a 13-year-old boy who was turned away by a specialist mental health service after a suicide attempt because his situation wasn’t deemed serious enough.
Max’s message to New Zealand is simple: “I worry that the taxes we are paying aren’t going to the places they should and we will continue to see a rise in child suicide because of this. I hope we can get Bill English to listen to us.”
Almost 2000 young people like Max were rejected or quickly referred on from specialist services last year.
That number is growing.
Some names have been changed to protect vulnerable young people.