Jeremy Hunt is right when he says that too many young people are being let down by the NHS (Hunt says mental health services for young are biggest NHS failing, 21 October). As a school counsellor in secondary schools for 14 years I have seen a steady decline in our young people’s mental health. Child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) have suffered budget cuts of £85m since 2010, rendering them now unfit for purpose and there has been a gradual disappearance of many other support agencies. The children’s commissioner for England states that a quarter of children referred for specialist mental health treatment do not receive a service. This has serious repercussions in their education and mental wellbeing, and will put an ever increasing burden on adult mental health services.
Mr Hunt says schools should work more closely with Camhs teams and more should have counsellors on the premises. Faced with severe budget cuts themselves, many schools are cutting counselling services. Furthermore, it has become increasingly difficult for schools to refer pupils on to Camhs as the waiting lists become longer and the threshold for referral is continually raised. Priority cases can wait months for an initial assessment and schools are advising pupils in crisis to present at A&E, where the mental health team is obliged to give some immediate psychological support. Providing funding for counselling in all English schools would show a tangible commitment to improving our children’s mental health.
The UK consistently comes towards the bottom of Unicef’s ranking of child wellbeing in the 21 most economically advanced countries. Jeremy Hunt might look at the reasons behind our children’s mental health problems rather than overburdening schools, the NHS and counselling professions when mental health reaches crisis point.
Catrina Goundry
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
• We welcome Jeremy Hunt highlighting the need to more effectively help children and young people with mental health issues by intervening early, and the emphasis he puts on schools and Camhs teams working together.
The secretary of state refers to the need for Camhs workers in schools, and that is important, but as in many areas of healthcare, you need to consider the whole system. You can’t just put a Camhs worker into a school and think everything is fixed. Schools need better trained staff, who can identify and signpost children who might have mental health problems, a curriculum where children and young people learn how to look after their own mental health, and a culture that addresses wellbeing. A Camhs worker or a counsellor in schools can help with all of this, but there will inevitably be those who need more specialist support, so there have to be appropriate services in the community as well. We already have a blueprint from government about how to do this, in the form of Future in Mind. It now needs to be implemented properly across the country so no child is left behind.
Many schools already see the importance of supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. For instance, Schools North East, which is UK’s only regional network of schools, has recently launched their schools-led mental health commission, which Prof Sue Bailey is privileged to chair.
Prof Sue Bailey and Dr Pooky Knightsmith
Chair and vice-chair, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
Child and adolescent mental health services need a tangible commitment | Letters
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