Children denied access to mental health services

Almost a quarter of child referrals – numbering in the thousands – were turned away from mental health services last year, an Education Policy Institute (EPI) report found.

It also found that over the past five years, referrals to specialist mental health services have increased by 26 per cent. It suggests the substantial rise indicates services are coming under increasing strain, despite a population increase of just 3 per cent.

Whitney Crenna-jennings, EPI report author and senior researcher, said children, including those who “have self-harmed or experienced abuse”, were turned away “often because their condition is not deemed serious enough to warrant treatment”.”

Barnardo’s said: “This is disturbing. Urgent action must be taken.”