Child mental health unit referrals rising

The BBC has revealed that referrals to child mental health units from UK primary schools for pupils aged 11 and under have increased by nearly 50 per cent in the last three years.

Responses from 46 health trusts revealed that child mental health referrals rose from 21,125 to 31,531, with pupils having spent more than a year on a waiting list for mental health services at 12 different trusts.

The BBC, who sent freedom of information requests to trusts, also claim that the number of serious mental health episodes is on the rise in a number of schools. The broadcaster found that 191 primary school pupils had self-harmed on school grounds in the last four years, according to responses received from 155 schools.

Bernadka Dubicka, chairwoman of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “These figures are deeply worrying and build on evidence which shows emotional disorders in children have increased in recent years. Services for children have been historically underfunded meaning they are unable to meet increased demand.

"The government's aim to provide mental health support in all schools within the next 10 years will be too little, too late for many children who need that help now."