Vulnerable youngsters are refused help – and not told why

BY DAVID CLEGG Political Editor explanations when they are refused help by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or referred elsewhere.

Freeman added: “This report finds that, while CAMHS may not be the right path for some of those referred, young people are being rejected from treatment without proper explanation or being directed to more appropriate care.

“That is completely unacceptable.”

The audit, which was carried out by the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and NHS Information Services Division on behalf of the Scottish Government, said: “It is clear that many children, young people and their families who are rejected ( for treatment) do have genuine and, in some cases, urgent need for help.”

The most common reason for being rejected for help was because the condition was not deemed severe enough – even when children were self-harming.

The report found the service is so poor that children and young people believe the CAMHS system nightmare”.

Freeman announced that a CAMHS taskforce led by mental health expert Dame Denise Coia would be set up and given £5 million to improve the service.

She said she was accepting 29 recommendations in the report, adding: “I am determined that our mental health service will be refounded on the need to empathise, engage and explain how to get help to often very vulnerable young people.”

Coia said: “I’m looking forward to working with is “a colleagues in health, education, children’s services and the third sector to improve children’s mental health services delivery.”

SAMH chief executive Billy Watson added: “We know that during the period we have conducted this audit, thousands more young people have seen their referral to CAMHS services rejected.”

Scottish Labour said the audit strengthened their calls for every school to have access to a counsellor.

Leader Richard Leonard added: “The findings of this report are quite shocking. The evidence that children were deemed not ill enough to merit treatment, even when they are self-harming, is a matter of grave concern.”

Scottish Lib Dem Alex ColeHamilton said: “When families realise there is a problem and take the brave step to try to get help, they deserve better.”