Parents sceptical over value of children’s mental health treatment

MORE THAN half of parents with children in mental health hospitals do not feel their condition has improved while being treated, a survey has revealed.

The findings are based on responses from 448 parents, whose children have been in mental health hospitals in England over the past five years.

Carried out by YoungMinds and the National Autistic Society, responses show 54 per cent of parents said they have seen no improvement in their child’s mental health while in hospital.

Almost a quarter (24 per cent) think the mental health of their offspring has actually deteriorated, and 44 per cent of parents felt unable to challenge decisions about their child’s treatment.

A third (33 per cent) said they were not consulted about decisions regarding medication, while 53 per cent said they were not confident that their child was receiving appropriate care.

And 44 per cent said they could not visit their child as often as they would have liked to because of the distance or travel time.

YoungMinds and the National Autistic Society have now launched the Always campaign and a petition calling on the Government to strengthen and enforce the rights of young people in mental health hospitals.

Sarah Brennan, of YoungMinds, said: “It is deeply alarming that so many parents feel angry and frustrated.

“In the worst cases, young people can be trapped in inappropriate care for years, with their mental health deteriorating, while their parents desperately try to find a way to get them home. That’s why it’s crucial that young people and their families have clear and enforceable rights that put that young person’s needs at the centre of their care and treatment.”

The campaign by the two charities is based around the Always Charter, which sets out 12 rights that young people in inpatient units and their families should always have. These include being “supported to be fully involved in decisions about the care and treatment they receive”, and being “treated and supported as close to home as possible”, as well as always being “treated with dignity and respect, including avoiding the use of restraint (including chemical restraint), isolation and seclusion wherever possible”.

An NHS England spokesman said: “Improving the availability and quality of care for children and young people with mental health problems is a clear priority for the NHS, and councils, third sector organisations, schools and social care all have a role to play, backed by an additional £1.4bn pledged for children and adolescent mental health services, which is already kick-starting this work.”