THE need to deliver mental health therapy for children across Dorset has soared since the start of the pandemic, figures reveal.

Data from NHS England show 49,360 mental health treatment sessions were delivered to under-18s by NHS services in the Dorset CCG area between April last year and January this year – 16.1 per cent more than in the same period 12 months before.

It reflects the trend across England, where the number of sessions delivered increased by 16.1 per cent to around four million.

This has prompted organisations such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) to warn children and young people are at risk of lifelong mental illness due to the mental health crisis triggered by the pandemic.

The professional body is calling for the additional £500 million announced in the Government’s mental health recovery plan last month to urgently reach the frontline so people can get support.

Spokeswoman for RCP, Dr Bernadka Dubicka said: "I’ve seen the devastating effect school closures, disrupted friendships, and the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, have had on the mental health of young people.

"Services were already struggling to cope with the number of children needing help before the pandemic hit, and they risk being overrun unless the Government ensures the promised money reaches the frontline."

The figures show in the eight months to January, 3,840 children and young people were referred to Dorset CCG for mental health support, and around 10 emergency referrals were made to the crisis care team across the period.

Across England, referrals increased by 28.1 per cent (around 416,000), and emergency referrals to the crisis care team rose by 10.4 per cent (around 6,000).

Stuart Lynch, head of CAMHS at Dorset HealthCare, said: "The pandemic and the impact of lockdown restrictions have caused a lot of change and uncertainty for young people, and undoubtedly affected their mental health.

"Our Trust is here to support children and young people through our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). We provide advice, care and support through our community teams, mental health teams in schools and – if required – inpatient treatment.

"We were pleased to see funding for children and young people included in the Government’s mental health recovery action plan, and would always welcome additional resources to help meet demand and bolster the care and support we can provide."

For more on this, visit: camhsdorset.org

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