Nice launches blueprint for improving depression services

The health standards body has developed a quality standard to be used by health services to ensure young people with depression are swiftly diagnosed and supported.

The standard specifies the need to ensure diagnosis is clearly recorded in medical notes and that children and young people have “age-appropriate information they can understand” to help them “participate in shared decision making”.

Children and young people with suspected severe depression or at high risk of suicide should be prioritised as an emergency case and assessed within 24 hours of a referral to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), the standard adds.

Healthcare professionals making the referral also need to ensure the young person is in a safe place prior to this assessment to avoid their symptoms worsening.

Professor Gillian Leng, Nice deputy chief executive and director of health and social care, said: “Depression in children and young people is more common than people might think and can be particularly distressing, both for the child or young person affected and their family.

“It is important there are clear steps in place to aid healthcare professionals involved in treating children and young people with depression, so that they can deliver the very best levels of care across the NHS.”

Of the 80,000 children and young people in the UK with severe depression, one in 10 are under 10 years old. This latest quality standards are aimed at patients aged between five and 18.

The quality standard has been backed by children's mental health charity YoungMinds. Lucie Russell, its director of campaigns, said: “The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2030, more people will be affected by depression than any other health problem. If we are to try to tackle this trend, it is vital that we get care for children and young people right.

“We particularly welcome the need for age-appropriate information. Children and young people we work with tell us how important it is to have information that enables them to be involved in decisions about their care.”

The government has pledged £54m to improve access to psychological therapy for young people with mental health problems including depression. This is funding training for CAMHS workers and other mental health providers up to 2015 in a range of psychological therapies through the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme.