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| Psychiatrists attack 'scandal' of child mental health spending | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| NHS bodies are spending as little as £2.01 per child on mental health care for young people, despite the big spike in anxiety, depression and other serious problems among under-18s. | NHS bodies are spending as little as £2.01 per child on mental health care for young people, despite the big spike in anxiety, depression and other serious problems among under-18s. |
| Psychiatrists claim the small sums being spent by GP-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England constitute a national scandal at a time when youth self-harm and suicide are rising. | Psychiatrists claim the small sums being spent by GP-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England constitute a national scandal at a time when youth self-harm and suicide are rising. |
| “It is a national scandal that opportunities to prevent mental illness from occurring in childhood are being missed because of unacceptably low investment,” said Prof Sir Simon Wessely, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. | “It is a national scandal that opportunities to prevent mental illness from occurring in childhood are being missed because of unacceptably low investment,” said Prof Sir Simon Wessely, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. |
| “Our analysis shows that in many parts of the country, the proportion of money that NHS clinical commissioning groups are planning to spend on the mental health of our children and young people is negligible,” he added. | “Our analysis shows that in many parts of the country, the proportion of money that NHS clinical commissioning groups are planning to spend on the mental health of our children and young people is negligible,” he added. |
| Luton CCG is spending the least amount of money for every under-18 in its area this year – just £2.01 – according to research into CCGs’ spending plans undertaken by the royal college. | Luton CCG is spending the least amount of money for every under-18 in its area this year – just £2.01 – according to research into CCGs’ spending plans undertaken by the royal college. |
| Other CCGs spending notably small sums on children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) include the London boroughs of Enfield (£2.33), Tower Hamlets (£4.45) and Ealing (£6.39) and North Somerset (£5.89). | Other CCGs spending notably small sums on children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) include the London boroughs of Enfield (£2.33), Tower Hamlets (£4.45) and Ealing (£6.39) and North Somerset (£5.89). |
| In contrast, Birmingham South and Central CCG has allocated the most for such services of any of England’s 209 CCGs – £135.85 – while the figure is £131.37 in Corby CCG and £126.76 in South Tyneside. | In contrast, Birmingham South and Central CCG has allocated the most for such services of any of England’s 209 CCGs – £135.85 – while the figure is £131.37 in Corby CCG and £126.76 in South Tyneside. |
| Ten CCGs are spending less than £10 a head this year treating the growing number of psychological and psychiatric illnesses which are occurring in under-18s. Twenty-five will spend £25 or less per head. Experts say that exam stress, body image issues, the negative effects of social media and pressure to succeed are among the key factors behind the increase in mental illness. | Ten CCGs are spending less than £10 a head this year treating the growing number of psychological and psychiatric illnesses which are occurring in under-18s. Twenty-five will spend £25 or less per head. Experts say that exam stress, body image issues, the negative effects of social media and pressure to succeed are among the key factors behind the increase in mental illness. |
| “The tiny sums being spent in some areas of the country are disgracefully low, particularly in light of sharply rising need,” said Luciana Berger, the MP and former shadow mental health minister who is now the president of the Labour campaign for mental health. | “The tiny sums being spent in some areas of the country are disgracefully low, particularly in light of sharply rising need,” said Luciana Berger, the MP and former shadow mental health minister who is now the president of the Labour campaign for mental health. |
| “This is yet further evidence of the gap between Jeremy Hunt’s continued promises for increased funding and the reality on the ground for our young people’s mental health services.” | “This is yet further evidence of the gap between Jeremy Hunt’s continued promises for increased funding and the reality on the ground for our young people’s mental health services.” |
| The Guardian disclosed last month that NHS mental health services were treating 234,000 children and young people in England every month, and that the real figure was much higher because 40% of mental health trusts had not yet said how many patients under 18 they had. | The Guardian disclosed last month that NHS mental health services were treating 234,000 children and young people in England every month, and that the real figure was much higher because 40% of mental health trusts had not yet said how many patients under 18 they had. |
| Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national director for mental health, said it was putting more money than ever before into CAMHS services. | Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national director for mental health, said it was putting more money than ever before into CAMHS services. |
| “Improving mental health for children and young people is an absolute priority for the NHS, and councils, third sector organisations, schools and social care all have a role to play in this. The additional £1.4bn invested last year is helping us to make progress on our ambition to treat 70,000 more children and young people each year by 2021,” said Murdoch. | “Improving mental health for children and young people is an absolute priority for the NHS, and councils, third sector organisations, schools and social care all have a role to play in this. The additional £1.4bn invested last year is helping us to make progress on our ambition to treat 70,000 more children and young people each year by 2021,” said Murdoch. |
| CCGs increased their spending on mental health overall by 8.4% during 2015-16, she added, but acknowledged that there was “variation around the country” in the exact sums invested. | CCGs increased their spending on mental health overall by 8.4% during 2015-16, she added, but acknowledged that there was “variation around the country” in the exact sums invested. |
| But research earlier this week by the Education Policy Institute said much of the extra £250m a year which the coalition government pledged to put into CAMHS care during each of the five years of this parliament was not reaching the frontline. Specialist children’s psychiatrists in many areas agree. | But research earlier this week by the Education Policy Institute said much of the extra £250m a year which the coalition government pledged to put into CAMHS care during each of the five years of this parliament was not reaching the frontline. Specialist children’s psychiatrists in many areas agree. |
| Berger said that underfunding CAMHS care was “a false economy” because 75% of adults who developed mental health problems first exhibited symptoms in childhood, and problems left unaddressed cost the NHS more. | Berger said that underfunding CAMHS care was “a false economy” because 75% of adults who developed mental health problems first exhibited symptoms in childhood, and problems left unaddressed cost the NHS more. |
| The NSPCC said the wide variation in the amounts put into CAMHS care reflected a “postcode lottery”. | The NSPCC said the wide variation in the amounts put into CAMHS care reflected a “postcode lottery”. |
| A spokesman for the charity said: “It is a sad state of affairs if vulnerable children and young people are subjected to a postcode lottery when it comes to getting mental health support. | A spokesman for the charity said: “It is a sad state of affairs if vulnerable children and young people are subjected to a postcode lottery when it comes to getting mental health support. |
| “It’s really concerning that some areas of the country will only spend a fraction on mental health services for children and young people compared to what others will spend elsewhere. It should go without saying that children and young people should be able to get proper support for mental health conditions regardless of where they live.” | “It’s really concerning that some areas of the country will only spend a fraction on mental health services for children and young people compared to what others will spend elsewhere. It should go without saying that children and young people should be able to get proper support for mental health conditions regardless of where they live.” |