Sharp rise in cases of children with mental health issues
Trust launches recruiting drive as it struggles to meet assessment targets
Mental health professionals are crying out for help as so many children are being referred to them with depression, anxiety and other problems they can’t cope.
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which has the contract for children’s mental health services in Kent, approached the Kent Messenger and admitted it was unable to meet government targets for assessing children with mental health issues because as many youngsters are being referred in a month as it used to expect in a year.
In west Kent, which includes Maidstone, Malling, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, just 35% of children (43) are assessed within the recommended six weeks. Across the county, 45% of children (290) are seen within the time frame.
The average time a child waits for a mental health assessment after being referred to the service is 88.9 days in west Kent, much higher than the county-wide average of 59.9 days.
In a bid to help more children more quickly, the trust has launched a big recruitment campaign.
Dr Saqib Latif, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and acting clinical director of Kent and Medway Children and Young People’s Service, said: “These targets are challenging but they should be. We all share the same desire to make sure children, young people and families receive the help they need when they need it.
“That said, it’s difficult to deal with increased demand with the same resources without this having an impact on waiting times for routine assessments.
“But the reality is that demand for our children and young people’s service is increasing. We receive around 1,000 new referrals a month in Kent – that’s about 25% higher than expected.
“And many of the young people we are seeing are experiencing greater levels of emotional distress than we have seen in the past, as is the case in other parts of the country. We are treating more cases of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and cases of self-harm than we have seen before.
“We need to prioritise help for children and young people in crisis.
“We have an incredibly dedicated, talented and passionate workforce, but we need more of them.”