GPS struggle to secure mental health help
Most GPS are working beyond their competence in dealing with mental health issues and are struggling to secure help, including for suicidal children, a new poll suggests.
The survey from Pulse, which specialises in primary care reporting, found around 38 per cent of GP consultations now have a mental health element, compared with 25 per cent pre-covid.
Seven in 10 GPS said they were working beyond their competence in dealing with children's mental health issues,while63percentsaid the same for adults.
Many were battling to get children seen by specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), with one GP based in south-east London saying: "I have not had a CAMHS referral accepted foratleastthepasttwoyears - all rejected as 'not actively suicidal, discharged to GP'."
Another told Pulse: "CAMHS reject every single referral, even in children presenting to hospital with overdose."
The Royal College of Psychiatrists responded to the poll, saying it was seeing record referrals and there were not enough psychiatrists for the workload.
The Pulse snapshot poll of 569 family doctors found they many GPS were having to provide a range of support during their consultations with patients.
Theseincludedmanaging suicidal thoughts in adults (86 per cent were providing thissupport),mentalhealth crises(81percent)andmonitoringpatientswhoshould be monitored by a specialist team (70 per cent).
Some 69 per cent of GPS were diagnosing children and adolescents with mental health issues and 66 per cent were dealing with suicidal thoughts in children.