A nationwide survey commissioned by the Department of Health and seen byChildren Now shows competing pressures on primary mental health workersare driving the majority to exhaustion.
The news comes as the Government puts increasing emphasis on improvingthe mental health of children in schools, with children's secretary EdBalls recently announcing an extra 60m to support schools onmental health.
According to researchers from Imperial College London almost four-fifthsof primary mental health workers feel "emotionally exhausted". More thanhalf say they are isolated, confused about the role and unsure abouttheir ability to do their job.
David Eaton, chair of the National Association of Child and AdolescentPrimary Mental Health Workers, said the role should balance liaison andtraining with staff in universal services such as schools, forging linkswith specialist children's mental health teams, and face-to-facetherapy. However the flexibility of the role meant workers facedcompeting expectations and confusion about what they should provide.
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