Mental health crisis in England at a critical level.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has highlighted the sharp rise in mental ill-health, that began after the first lockdown in March 2020, in an analysis of NHS and Office for National Statistics data. The college said NHS services were struggling to cope with the demand.

Record numbers of children and adults sought NHS help last year for problems such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders, or because they ended up in a mental health crisis.

There were 80,226 more under-18s referred to NHS mental health services in England between April and December 2020 than the same period in 2019

The analysis found that:

• In 2020, between April and December, 372,438 under-18s were referred for mental health help, the most recorded, and 28% more than the 292,212 referred in the same period in 2019.

•  Under-18s received 3.58m sessions of treatment in those nine months, 20% up on the year before.

•  The number of children and young people needing emergency care because they were in a mental health crisis rose 20% to 18,269.

In one of the latest news reports, a 12-year-old boy from East London took his own life. This is one of the many cases reported since the pandemic started. Mental ill-health is on the increase and we have all felt the effects that the lockdowns and the pandemic are having on mental health.

Knowledge about mental health prevention is essential for people of all ages.

Everyone should know how to deal with someone suffering from depression and anxiety and it’s a must to know where they can get help and support others.

Here are some groups you can contact when you need help.

Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence.

Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won’t show up on your bill.

PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141.

Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. No helpline but offers useful resources and links to other information.

Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Find out more here.

Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Find out more here.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy.
There's a website and a helpline: 0800 58 58 58.

References:

the Guardian. 2021. Extent of mental health crisis in England at ‘terrifying’ level. [online] Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/09/extent-of-mental-health-crisis-in-england-at-terrifying-level> [Accessed 13 April 2021].

MyLondon. 2021. East London grandma shares heartbreak after grandson, 12, takes own life. [online] Available at: <https://www-mylondon-news.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/he-little-angel-east-london-19636020.amp> [Accessed 13 April 2021].