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| When the state abandons suicidal children, something has gone badly wrong | When the state abandons suicidal children, something has gone badly wrong |
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| The first time you hear a 13-year-old say they want to die stays with you. I was a volunteer counsellor at Childline for a decade until a few years ago, answering the phones, and later, replying to the online chat service. One thing that struck me around 2014 was the rising number of young people contacting us with suicidal thoughts. Some would call with plans in place. Others would type out distressed thoughts. The counsellors and staff were diligent and caring, and sometimes simply listening was what was needed. | The first time you hear a 13-year-old say they want to die stays with you. I was a volunteer counsellor at Childline for a decade until a few years ago, answering the phones, and later, replying to the online chat service. One thing that struck me around 2014 was the rising number of young people contacting us with suicidal thoughts. Some would call with plans in place. Others would type out distressed thoughts. The counsellors and staff were diligent and caring, and sometimes simply listening was what was needed. |
| But each time I helped a young person contact their local mental health service, I was very aware that – with growing nationwide waiting lists – there was every chance they would find the courage to ask for support, only to be turned away. | But each time I helped a young person contact their local mental health service, I was very aware that – with growing nationwide waiting lists – there was every chance they would find the courage to ask for support, only to be turned away. |
| On Friday the NHS watchdog will release a report into child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in England, warning that children with mental health problems are waiting up to 18 months to be treated. The Care Quality Commission says that, when young people do get help from the NHS, many are referred by their GP or teacher, only to be unable to access support In fact one-fifth of all children referred to local specialist NHS mental health services are now rejected for treatment by overstretched services. | On Friday the NHS watchdog will release a report into child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in England, warning that children with mental health problems are waiting up to 18 months to be treated. The Care Quality Commission says that, when young people do get help from the NHS, many are referred by their GP or teacher, only to be unable to access support In fact one-fifth of all children referred to local specialist NHS mental health services are now rejected for treatment by overstretched services. |
| While suicidal thoughts is the fifth most common reason for boys to contact Childline, it’s third most common for girls | While suicidal thoughts is the fifth most common reason for boys to contact Childline, it’s third most common for girls |
| The impact of this is as inhumane as any so-called civilised country could imagine. The charity Young Minds says delays for treatment mean children are actually starting to self-harm as they wait for an appointment. Others are falling out of education and watching their life chances shrink. Some parents are breaking up because of the strain, or having to stop working so they can look after their child. Reports of children being forced to spend the night in police cells because of a lack of available NHS beds are now far from uncommon. | The impact of this is as inhumane as any so-called civilised country could imagine. The charity Young Minds says delays for treatment mean children are actually starting to self-harm as they wait for an appointment. Others are falling out of education and watching their life chances shrink. Some parents are breaking up because of the strain, or having to stop working so they can look after their child. Reports of children being forced to spend the night in police cells because of a lack of available NHS beds are now far from uncommon. |
| Increasingly, vulnerable children are being given an inpatient bed miles away from their parents’ home, or treated on adult psychiatric wards. The government likes to talk big on mental health in this country. Theresa May is keen on lamenting the “burning injustice” of insufficient mental health services, while Jeremy Hunt repeatedly criticises the “historic imbalance” between mental and physical health facilities. | Increasingly, vulnerable children are being given an inpatient bed miles away from their parents’ home, or treated on adult psychiatric wards. The government likes to talk big on mental health in this country. Theresa May is keen on lamenting the “burning injustice” of insufficient mental health services, while Jeremy Hunt repeatedly criticises the “historic imbalance” between mental and physical health facilities. |
| It’s the definition of hypocrisy that the Conservatives are in fact responsible for slashing funding to mental health provision. More than one in five local authorities has either frozen or cut its CAMHS budgets every year since 2010. That’s £85m gone in six years. Contrary to what May or Hunt suggest, this is far from over. | It’s the definition of hypocrisy that the Conservatives are in fact responsible for slashing funding to mental health provision. More than one in five local authorities has either frozen or cut its CAMHS budgets every year since 2010. That’s £85m gone in six years. Contrary to what May or Hunt suggest, this is far from over. |
| Freedom of information requests from the Labour party last month found that half of local NHS bodies plan to reduce the proportion of their budgets spent on offering mental health support in 2017/18. That this is happening at a time when demand for such services is rocketing makes it all the more reckless. The number of young girls treated as inpatients after self-poisoning has increased by 42% over the past decade. Eating disorder admissions nearly doubled between 2011 and 2014. Childline reported this month that it is now receiving 60 calls a day about suicide, with children as young as 10 experiencing suicidal thoughts. | Freedom of information requests from the Labour party last month found that half of local NHS bodies plan to reduce the proportion of their budgets spent on offering mental health support in 2017/18. That this is happening at a time when demand for such services is rocketing makes it all the more reckless. The number of young girls treated as inpatients after self-poisoning has increased by 42% over the past decade. Eating disorder admissions nearly doubled between 2011 and 2014. Childline reported this month that it is now receiving 60 calls a day about suicide, with children as young as 10 experiencing suicidal thoughts. |
| There are particular concerns over the rise in young girls facing mental health problems. NHS data released last month warned that young women are experiencing a “gathering crisis” in their mental health, linked to conflict with friends, fears about their body image and pressures created by social media. While suicidal thoughts is the fifth most common reason for boys to contact Childline, it’s the third most common for girls. | There are particular concerns over the rise in young girls facing mental health problems. NHS data released last month warned that young women are experiencing a “gathering crisis” in their mental health, linked to conflict with friends, fears about their body image and pressures created by social media. While suicidal thoughts is the fifth most common reason for boys to contact Childline, it’s the third most common for girls. |
| Listen to such overwhelming evidence and there is a lurking feeling of having heard it before. These warnings have been emerging repeatedly for several years now – and yet nothing is changing. Back in 2015, the NSPCC was warning of a “timebomb” of children – many of them abused or neglected – left to cope without mental health support. | Listen to such overwhelming evidence and there is a lurking feeling of having heard it before. These warnings have been emerging repeatedly for several years now – and yet nothing is changing. Back in 2015, the NSPCC was warning of a “timebomb” of children – many of them abused or neglected – left to cope without mental health support. |
| Last year, Prof Dame Sue Bailey, former head of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, called the situation a “car crash waiting to happen”. I can’t help but think of the words a Childline spokesperson issued last month: “Without appropriate support for young people, many are shouldering their troubles singlehandedly and turning to Childline only when they reach crisis point.” | Last year, Prof Dame Sue Bailey, former head of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, called the situation a “car crash waiting to happen”. I can’t help but think of the words a Childline spokesperson issued last month: “Without appropriate support for young people, many are shouldering their troubles singlehandedly and turning to Childline only when they reach crisis point.” |
| We are at the point where young people in mental health crisis are turning to charity because there is no one else to help them. When the state is abandoning suicidal children, there is something seriously wrong. | We are at the point where young people in mental health crisis are turning to charity because there is no one else to help them. When the state is abandoning suicidal children, there is something seriously wrong. |
| • Frances Ryan writes the Guardian’s Hardworking Britain series | • Frances Ryan writes the Guardian’s Hardworking Britain series |
| • In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org | • In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org |