Over the past four of five weeks I have personally encountered three people with harrowing stories of being let down by the very services that should be there to support them with their Mental Health problems. All three regard the mental health of children and young people. Two involved young people attempting to end their own lives. Sadly the local CAMHS did not deem them ‘critical’ enough to provide help.
The third, only this morning involved a child who is being pushed from pillar to post with nobody taking responsibility to provide the much needed help and support.
To say that this leaves me seething is an understatement.
I am a very experienced mental health professional and have witnessed the blatant dismantling of the services that would have provided the necessary help and support over the past few years.
Should I shout out about my disgust at the political ideology that has driven this decline in provision, yes I bloomin’ well should.
Even as new initiatives are lauded from the podium and from the dispatch box the truth is they will not help one jot the people whom I have spoken with. There needs to be fully funded mental health services.