Stop neglecting mentally ill children: create nationwide outreach

  • by: Frances D
  • recipient: Secretary of Health, The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt

Shocking figures from the NHS have revealed that huge numbers of young people and children with mental health issues are languishing in hospital beds. Despite being assessed as fit for discharge, some are kept in hospital for months, because there are no suitable services in their home area. Between October 2015 and September 2016, a total of over 9,000 excess days were spent in hospital beds by children ready to go home.

Extending hospital stays can have a devastating impact on vulnerable individuals. Emily Frith, the author an EPI report on children’s mental health, said: "Being in hospital for a mental health condition can be a disturbing experience for a young person. For example, there is the risk that they will witness frightening incidents such as another patient’s self-harm or that their condition gets worse due to being separated from their friends and family." She urged the government to provide specialist community staff across the country.

Proper local services can also prevent children being hospitalised in the first place. Javed Khan, the chief executive of Barnardo’s, said: "Intensive community mental health support should be available for every child regardless of where they live, to prevent their issues escalating and avoid them being admitted to hospital." The government have previously pledged to increase the number of intensive outreach teams for children and young people suffering from mental health issues, but 64% of inpatient care centres still say they do not have one.

Please sign this petition to demand that the government commit to community care teams across the country to support children and young people with mental health issues. If enough people sign it will send a clear message that the government must do more to support mentally ill children and young people.

The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt:

Children and young people with mental health issues are spending huge amounts of time in hospital after being declared fit for discharge because there are no appropriate services in their home area. 

64% of inpatient care providers across the country do not have the intensive community outreach staff they need to provide proper care for mentally ill young people and children in their area.

The increased stays in hospital are a waste of resources, and put additional strain on the mental health of the patients.

It's time for the government to honour its pledges and extend intensive community outreach services across the country.

[Your comments]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.