Mental Health Case Study

Mental Health is one of the most pressing issues facing young people in today’s society and the NHS is failing us. A staggering one in ten children and young people aged five to sixteen are affected by a mental health problem in the UK. This is despite the knowledge and awareness of mental health problems. According to the Mental Health Foundation, alarmingly 70% of young people who experience a mental health problem do not receive the appropriate support. The world would be outraged if this was the case for cancer suffers or broken bone victims. The emotional well-being of children and young people is just as important as their physical health. The early years of adulthood are decisive as the body and mind are quickly developing and day in day out young people are faced with new challenges. It is fundamental that
Too many children who try and speak about the way they’re feeling are being let down or simply ignored. As a result of this neglect many young people are resorting to self-harm as a way to cope or in some extreme cases think about ending their own

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) is a service which provides support for those who have difficulties with their emotional or behavioural wellbeing. The maximum waiting time for a first appointment with CAMHS is six months and then nearly ten months until the start of the treatment. On top of this CAMHS are turning away nearly a quarter of all patients who have been referred to them as they don’t meet the criteria. Why is more not being done to support vulnerable young people? We need to have more of these agencies particularly when the pressure is at breaking point for the NHS and they are struggling to make sure what they offer is sufficient. Having more than one would mean the waiting list wouldn’t be as long and more people would get seen and taken