ADCS calls for shake up of ‘failing’ youth mental health services

The children’s services leaders group wants to see children’s health given the same priority as the health needs of older people.

This is particularly the case with mental health services, as a “staggering” three-quarters of young people who have mental health problems are not receiving any support or treatment, says a new ADCS report.

Being called for is a greater recognition of the mental health needs of specific vulnerable groups, including children in care “who will have experienced adverse childhood experiences which impact on mental health and wellbeing”, states A health care system that works for all children.

All secondary and alternative education provision pupils should be guaranteed access to on-site school counselling to offer support at an early stage, it adds.

ADCS president Rachel Dickinson said that health services, especially those offering mental health support, are currently letting down children.

“Would I go so far as to say it is failing them? Yes, some of them, particularly those young people in need of mental health support services,” she said in a speech this week.

Dickinson wants more Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to extend their reach to 18-years-olds “or even to 25”.

Some already do, but “too many CAMHS services stop at age 16 and adult mental health services start age 18 – tough luck if you are 17”, she added. 

The ADCS report states: “The children of today are tomorrow’s adults – it is vital we support them in their journey to become healthy, happy, independent and productive adults. Not only because this is the right thing to do, but also because investing in childhood health and wellbeing will ultimately reduce demand on the health service and adult social care later on.

“ADCS members believe that now, more than ever, there is a real need for a national commitment to ensure that the NHS of the future has children at its heart, and children’s health and wellbeing services are given parity with those of older people.”

Other priority groups include children in poverty, with the ACDS report citing latest estimates that around 5.2 million children will be living in poverty by 2022. It adds that there are more than four million children – one in three – currently living in poverty.

“It is those from the poorest communities who experience much worse health compared with those living in the most affluent,” states the report. “It cannot be right that a child’s health and wellbeing is in part determined by poverty.”

Earlier this week, the National Youth Advocacy Service called for urgent action to prioritise the mental health needs of looked-after children and care leavers before they reach crisis point.