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Newsreader Mark Austin feared for life of daughter with anorexia Newsreader Mark Austin feared for life of daughter with anorexia Newsreader Mark Austin feared for life of daughter with anorexia
(about 2 hours later)
ITV newsreader Mark Austin and his wife feared their teenage daughter would die after she became “dangerously ill” with anorexia and depression.ITV newsreader Mark Austin and his wife feared their teenage daughter would die after she became “dangerously ill” with anorexia and depression.
He revealed how his family had struggled to get the care she needed as her weight fell from about nine stone to less than six stones (38kg) and organ failure neared.He revealed how his family had struggled to get the care she needed as her weight fell from about nine stone to less than six stones (38kg) and organ failure neared.
“She was basically shrinking away before our eyes,” he told BBC Radio 4’s the World at One. “It all happened very quickly. We thought we were losing her so we tried to get help, but there wasn’t really the help there.”“She was basically shrinking away before our eyes,” he told BBC Radio 4’s the World at One. “It all happened very quickly. We thought we were losing her so we tried to get help, but there wasn’t really the help there.”
The journalist said his daughter had needed “quick, significant” intervention, but he and his wife could not find it in the NHS.The journalist said his daughter had needed “quick, significant” intervention, but he and his wife could not find it in the NHS.
“There were no beds available, there was no specialist unit available; she needed to be in somewhere where they were looking after her with people of her own age.”“There were no beds available, there was no specialist unit available; she needed to be in somewhere where they were looking after her with people of her own age.”
The couple turned to private care, but they were not happy with the treatment they say their daughter, who had been taking her A-levels, was given.The couple turned to private care, but they were not happy with the treatment they say their daughter, who had been taking her A-levels, was given.
“It wasn’t the kind of care we wanted for her. There was force-feeding going on. There was all sorts of stuff that was making her even more depressed,” Austin said.“It wasn’t the kind of care we wanted for her. There was force-feeding going on. There was all sorts of stuff that was making her even more depressed,” Austin said.
“We pulled her out and basically looked after her ourselves. Had it not been for the fact that my wife is an A&E doctor I’m not sure what would have happened.”“We pulled her out and basically looked after her ourselves. Had it not been for the fact that my wife is an A&E doctor I’m not sure what would have happened.”
Although he believed the NHS offered the best emergency healthcare in the world for physical ailments, he told the BBC that more funding for mental health is required.Although he believed the NHS offered the best emergency healthcare in the world for physical ailments, he told the BBC that more funding for mental health is required.
“We are heading towards an epidemic in mental health and there are not the resources there to deal with it,” Austin said.“We are heading towards an epidemic in mental health and there are not the resources there to deal with it,” Austin said.
His daughter is now “doing fine”, he told the World at One for a special edition on mental health.His daughter is now “doing fine”, he told the World at One for a special edition on mental health.
In July 2015, Austin wrote in the Guardian: “Children with mental health problems are not being dealt with early enough and are ending up in wards – if they are lucky – where their problems worsen. Early intervention can make a vast difference, and yet there is no easy way to get help.”In July 2015, Austin wrote in the Guardian: “Children with mental health problems are not being dealt with early enough and are ending up in wards – if they are lucky – where their problems worsen. Early intervention can make a vast difference, and yet there is no easy way to get help.”
His article coincided with an investigation by ITV News and the charity Young Minds that found £35m had been cut from children and adolescent services in the preceding year, with the total reaching £80m for the preceding four years.His article coincided with an investigation by ITV News and the charity Young Minds that found £35m had been cut from children and adolescent services in the preceding year, with the total reaching £80m for the preceding four years.
The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has two young daughters, said any father listening to Austin’s interview would be “incredibly worried”.The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has two young daughters, said any father listening to Austin’s interview would be “incredibly worried”.
Although the government is investing £1.4bn in the collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (Cams) over the course of this parliament, Hunt admitted more needed to be done.Although the government is investing £1.4bn in the collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (Cams) over the course of this parliament, Hunt admitted more needed to be done.
“Obviously in Mark’s case it is wonderful that his daughter made a full recovery, but I’ve spoken to a dad whose daughter committed suicide in Cumbria the day after she had a Cams appointment,” Hunt told the World at One. “Obviously in Mark’s case it is wonderful that his daughter made a full recovery, but I’ve spoken to a dad whose daughter committed suicide in Cumbria the day after she had a Cams appointment – I’m sure, not the fault of the Cams therapist she was seeing – but we didn’t spot the seriousness of the problem and we weren’t able to prevent that suicide. So I do think it is an area we need to do a lot better,” Hunt told the World at One.
“We didn’t spot the seriousness of the problem and we weren’t able to prevent that suicide. So I do think it is an area we need to do a lot better.”
The MP said it was partly about funding, but added: “It is also about consistency of service because, as Mark Austin and other people have pointed out, it is very patchy.”The MP said it was partly about funding, but added: “It is also about consistency of service because, as Mark Austin and other people have pointed out, it is very patchy.”