Latest figures from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) more than a quarter of children referred to mental health services are being denied help despite extra government funding to improve access. Analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) of Freedom of Information (FOI) Act responses from CAMHS teams those who are being turned away include young people who are self-harming, have an eating disorder or have experienced abuse.
The proportion of children being turned away for support comes despite an extra £1.4bn being spent over the last five years by the government on improving mental health access for young people.
The annual report by the EPI said: “These findings echo our previous research and raise concerns that the growing number of children and young people with complex needs that do not fit clearly into diagnostic boxes, those with lower-level mental health needs and older adolescents may be unable to access the support they require.”
