Mental health referrals for youngsters rise again

The number of youngsters in Tayside referred to mental health services increased again last year.

In 2018, the number of people under the age of 18 referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) was 2,735.

There has been a steady rise in the last decade, with 1,412 youths referred in 2010.

The only year that saw a drop was 2014, with 1,867 referrals against 2,087 in 2013.

Nine children as young as four years old needed some form of mental health treatment last year. In some years, children under three years old were being referred.

See Me Scotland, a charity that tackles mental health stigma, said more adults need to feel confident talking to youths about the issue.

And concerns have been raised about the amount of referrals that were subsequently rejects by CAMHS.

Last year, around 900 of the referrals were turned away by CAMHS. The data, which was released through Freedom of Information legislation, does not detail why.

GP referrals being rejected in all age groups was one of the key criticisms outlined in an interim report, released earlier this year, of the ongoing inquiry into mental health services within NHS Tayside.

A NHS Tayside spokeswoman said: “In common with other boards across Scotland, NHS Tayside has seen an increase in referrals and this correlates with a rise in the rate of mental illness in children and young people in recent years.

“Specialist CAMHS sees children with a range of emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and psychotic disorders.

“Treatments offered in specialist CAMHS include assessment and diagnosis which can be helpful interventions in themselves, and the service offers psychological therapies including cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy, specific therapies for eating disorders and other psychological therapies.

“When appropriate, the service also prescribes medications.”