“As a doctor specialising in mental health, this report confirms what I see on a daily basis: children and parents struggling to know when and where to seek help, and often finding themselves on long waiting lists for treatment once they do.
“This is almost entirely a symptom of under resourcing. With the number of child and adolescent psychiatrists down 6.6% since 2013, the waiting lists for treatment are only getting longer. If we do not have a robust mental health workforce, we will not be able to support the children in need of treatment.
“We also cannot expect young children to fully understand what they’re going through and know how to get help. Free online information like MindEd can help parents know what to look out for and how to talk to their children about how they’re feeling.”
Dr Bernadka Dubicka, chairperson of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' child and adolescent faculty.
For further information, please contact:
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