NEW YEAR NEW WORRIES – WHERE TO FIND HELP

If you switch on the news you could be forgiven for thinking the country is on its knees.

With the NHS already struggling to cope, horror stories of people dying at home waiting for an ambulance or people waiting for 3 days in A&E to get a bed in hospital.

You may not be able to get to work because of rail strikes or you may find yourself burned out after Christmas, you may find yourself in financial trouble or suffering from mental health issues, you are not alone and help is available.

Child Mental Health Crisis

YoungMinds the children’s metal health organisation reported the following:

One in six children aged five to 16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in July 2021, a huge increase from one in nine in 2017. That’s five children in every classroom

The number of A&E attendances by young people aged 18 or under with a recorded diagnosis of a psychiatric condition more than tripled between 2010 and 2018-19

83% of young people with mental health needs agreed that the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse

In 2018-19, 24% of 17-year-olds reported having self-harmed in the previous year, and seven per cent reported having self-harmed with suicidal intent at some point in their lives. 16% reported high levels of psychological distress
Suicide was the leading cause of death for males and females aged between five to 34 in 2019

Nearly half of 17-19 year-olds with a diagnosable mental health disorder has self-harmed or attempted suicide at some point, rising to 52.7% for young women

Just over one in three children and young people with a diagnosable mental health condition get access to NHS care and treatment

In a YoungMinds survey, three-quarters (76%) of parents said that their child’s mental health had deteriorated while waiting for support from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

In a YoungMinds commissioned survey by Censuswide, two-thirds (67%) of young people said they would prefer to be able to access mental health support without going to see their GP but half (53%) said they didn’t know how else to access this help

See also Cost of Living Crisis not ending anytime soon

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/mental-health-statistics/

Adult Mental health Crisis

Shameful statistics show a mental health crisis that is spiralling out of control as demand far outweighs capacity, warns BMA

Mental health patients across the country are being failed by the Government as the BMA warns that the latest NHS mental health statistics for England show a system that is struggling to keep up with rising demand.   

Over the last year, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness have reported an increase in demand for their services. For example, in the 12 months since the first national lockdown was announced, Rethink reported a 175% increase in demand for advice and information on their website.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said that in December 2021 alone, 1.8 million mental health consultations had taken place. This was a great feat, considering this was the same time the Omicron variant of Covid-19 swept across the UK. Despite this, however, around 1.4 million people were still waiting for treatment.

Food Banks see unprecedented demand

Food bank charity The Trussell Trust reports that one in five working people are now turning to food banks, as the cost of living crisis takes its toll.

During what is likely to be the most challenging winter our food bank network has ever faced, please help make sure we can be there for everyone who needs us.

The soaring cost of living means more and more people are being forced to use food banks.

For the first time ever, food banks are giving out more food than is being donated. This is an emergency.

Fuel Poverty

Fuel poverty is the condition by which a household is unable to afford to heat (or cool) their home to an adequate temperature.

It is caused by low income, high fuel prices, poor energy efficiency, unaffordable housing prices and poor quality private rental housing.

In England, the ‘Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency’ indictor is used to determine official fuel poverty. Under this, a household is considered fuel poor if;

They are living in a property with a fuel poverty energy efficiency rating of band D or below, and
When they spend the required amount to heat their home, they are left with a residual income below the official poverty line.

A mind blowing 8.6 million is the estimated number of households expected to be in fuel poverty from 1 April 2023 as the current package of support for households runs out and the Energy Price Guarantee changes.

More than two million UK households are already in debt on their electricity and gas bills.

If you are struggling with any of these issues there is help available.

Help for children’s mental health

If you child is experiencing mental health issues your first point of call should be your GP

Children and young people’s mental health services (CYPMHS)

Children and young people’s mental health services (CYPMHS) is used as a term for all services that work with children and young people who have difficulties with their mental health or wellbeing.

Find your local integrated care board (ICB) here:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/find-your-local-integrated-care-board/

Help for adult mental health

Seeking help is often the first step towards getting and staying well, but it can be hard to know how to start or where to turn to. It’s common to feel unsure, and to wonder whether you should try to handle things on your own. But it’s always ok to ask for help – even if you’re not sure you are experiencing a specific mental health problem.