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Third of children referred by schools denied mental health treatment

2 mins read Health
Nearly a third of children being referred to specialist mental health services by their schools are being denied treatment, an investigation has found.

A Freedom of Information request to NHS Trusts in England by the NSPCC found schools seeking professional help for pupils from NHS child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) made 123,713 referrals since 2014/15.

Overall the number of referrals has increased each year since 2014/15, reaching 34,757 in 2017/18 - the equivalent of 183 every school day.

Over the four-year period the majority of referrals (56 per cent) came from primary schools.

Of NHS trusts that were able to provide information, nearly a third (31 per cent) of referrals from schools to CAMHS were declined treatment as they did not meet the criteria for support.

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