New research shows that children from the most deprived areas are twice as likely to be rejected by NHS mental health services than those from the least deprived areas.
Despite it being well established that these vulnerable children are more likely to suffer mental health conditions, analysis by researchers at Cambridge University and the National Children’s Bureau found that they are more likely to be refused access to NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The research also found that children with social work involvement for current concerns were more likely to be rejected from CAMHS than their peers.
These inequalities are part of what informed our decision to focus the Mental Health Hub community outreach in North East Sheffield, the most deprived Local Area Committee in the city. While this research is shocking, it is sadly not surprising. It has long been clear that the links between poverty and mental health cannot be overlooked, and we continue to support Children at the Table‘s call on the Government to take action to tackle poverty and reform children’s mental health support and social care services.
Read the full report below.