Massive rise in number of girls admitted to hospital as they fight mental health issues
HOSPITAL admissions for mental health conditions among young girls increased as much as 40 per cent in England during the Covid-19 pandemic, figures show.
The statistics, from NHS Digital, reveal a jump in admissions every month between June and December last year in girls aged up to 17.There were a total of 3,924 diagnoses in the six months, an increase of more than 20 per cent from 3,219 in 2019.
But the figures month on month are even more startling.when comparing December 2019 to December 2020, there is an increase of 40.2 per cent, from 443 diagnoses to 621, while in November there was an increase of a third, from 561 to an overall monthly peak of 748.This is likely to be an underestimation, says the NHS Digital report, as figures for 2020 are provisional.
Rates for the number of boys, aged up to 17, admitted to hospital for mental health conditions have decreased each month for the period of April 2020 to January 2021, apart from the month of December 2020, when numbers increased to the highest in the recent six-year period with 329 admissions.
Nick Harrop, head of external affairs at charityyoungminds, said: “Many young people we work with have struggled to cope with the changes brought on by the pandemic, with some experiencing social isolation, anxiety, disruption to education, bereavement or fears about their future.
“It’s vital that young people can get the help they need before they reach crisis point.that’s why we need to see continued investment in NHS mental health services and, crucially, in early support beyond the NHS, through a national network of early intervention mental health hubs.”
Mental health charity Mind conducted a survey of 16,000 people during the initial lockdown, in which two-thirds of 13-24-year-olds reported a worsening of their mental health.
Next month it will publish the findings from its Educating Mental Health inquiry and make a series of recommendations about how the Government can transform the support that young people receive within schools.