A PROJECT to improve youngsters’ mental health will pick up pace in the town’s schools - after it was revealed thousands of teenagers have attended Barnsley Hospital’s accident and emergency department with concerns over their mental health.
A Freedom of Information request revealed a total of 3,671 youngsters under the age of 18 required support between 2020 and 2025.
Anxiety, suicidal thoughts and behaviour change were all referenced upon arrival, the document added.
Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis said the government is now taking action to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
A new support team is in training at South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and is set to roll out services to all local schools next year.
As part of a pilot scheme, nine in ten schools say the teams improved children’s mental health and wellbeing, while seven in ten report improved attendance.
Dan added: “Parents across Barnsley want their children to grow up healthy and happy.
“As a parent myself, I understand the concerns many families have about the pressures young people face today.
“Growing up can be challenging and too many children are dealing with stresses, worries and anxiety that can affect their wellbeing.
“That’s why we’re putting support in place to help children build resilience and access the help they need when they need it.”
According to a study compiled by University College London professors, the annual cost to the NHS to treat children and young people in mental health crisis in specialised acute hospital wards quadrupled in the last decade.
Researchers have found that the cost is now at a record high of £87.5m.
Dr Lee Hudson, who authored the study, said: “Hospitals appear to be absorbing the cost of the country’s mental health crisis, despite not always being set up to manage them.
“The admissions are driven by both increased demand and high levels of risk.
“These are children who are so ill because of their mental health that they can’t be at home.
“We found increased admissions for self-harm and also more eating disorder admissions which tend to last longer.”
The Royal College of Nursing backed the arrival of the dedicated support teams.
Chief executive Nicola Ranger added: “Children and young people attending A and E in a mental health crisis is evidence of a catastrophic system-wide failure.
“Nursing staff give their all in the most difficult circumstances, but the fact is that busy and stressful A and Es are wholly unsuitable places for anyone in mental distress, let alone vulnerable children.
“It’s absolutely vital the government rapidly rolls this out - children and young people deserve appropriate treatment in a safe and dignified environment.
“But I also want us to fully get a grip on the underlying causes of mental ill health among the young, including poverty, as well as poor and insecure housing.
“Children are being unforgivably failed and the time for sticking plasters is over.”
