Vulnerable children not receiving vital mental health treatment, Pulse reports

60 per cent of GP referrals for child mental health lead to no treatment, according to a major investigation by Pulse.

Pulse obtained figures from 15 mental health trusts and found that an alarming number of referrals lead to no treatment at all, with a third of children not even assessed.

The report suggests that mental services are getting worse for young people, with the number of referrals that progress to treatment dropping from 44 per cent in 2013 to 39 per cent in 2015.

Dr Karen Cox, a GP in Bristol, told Pulse: “Recently all referrals seem to get bounced. They’ve included children who self-harm, a child who was physically abusing his mother and a child with severe night terrors after the loss of his father. All of them were advised to contact local charitable organisations.”

Responding to the report, a Department of Health spokesperson said: “No child who needs help should be refused it. That is why we have introduced the first-ever mental health access and waiting time standards and are putting in a record £1.4bn to transform support for young people.

“This investment is just beginning, so will be making an increasing difference in the years ahead – every area in the country has produced plans on how they are going to work together to make sure young people get support before they reach a crisis point.”