Kids aged 11 and under being referred to mental health units ‘up nearly 50%’
THE number of children aged 11 and under being referred to mental health units from school has risen by nearly 50 per cent, it's reported.
Figures from 46 health trusts in Britain show referrals for primary school children went up from 21,125 to 31,531 in three years.
Pupils had also spent more than a year on a waiting list for mental health services at 12 different trusts, according to a Freedom of Information request by the .
It comes as head teachers warn the number of serious mental health episodes is on the rise in their schools.
One has told how a pupil was rejected for treatment on nine occasions and another spent nearly three years on a waiting list.
Sue Blair, head teacher at Pennine Way Primary School in Carlisle, said: "I think the crisis is really acute."
She added that she is seeing self-harm in children as young as seven, while pupils are struggling with online bullying and eating disorders before they reach secondary school.
Tragic events
Earlier this week, 14-year-old Sam Connor died after being hit by a train in Surrey amid allegations he was being "bullied online" by trolls posting nasty comments.
In 2017, schoolgirl Molly Russell took her own life a week before her 15th birthday after viewing scores of images glorifying self-harm and suicide.
Last month, Theresa May unveiled plans for all teachers to be trained in spotting mental health issues and updated statutory guidance will make clear schools’ responsibilities in protecting children.
It marks a huge victory for The Sun's ‘You’re Not Alone’ campaign, which launched in September last year – to remind anyone facing a tough time or grappling with mental illness that there is hope.
'Deeply worrying'
The government says it is "determined to improve mental health support".
But campaigners say these latest figures are "deeply worrying".
Dr Bernadka Dubicka, chairwoman of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, told the BBC: "These figures are deeply worrying and build on evidence which shows emotional disorders in children have increased in recent years.
"Services for children have been historically underfunded meaning they are unable to meet increased demand.
"The government's aim to provide mental health support in all schools within the next 10 years will be too little, too late for many children who need that help now."
THE 8 KEY SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN YOUR CHILDREN
IF your child begins to show any of these signs you should try to talk to them about how they are feeling, or speak to a professional
- persistently low mood
- withdrawn from social events
- uncontrollable anger
- tearfulness and emotional outbursts
- loss of interest in hobbies and things they used to enjoy
- trouble eating
- trouble sleeping
- self-harming
Dani Worthington, head teacher of Moorside Community Primary School in Halifax, said: "We're seeing an increase year on year - more and more children with a variety of problems and it just seems to be getting harder and harder to manage.
"We've seen children headbutting walls, punching walls, kicking walls, and this can sometimes happen on a daily basis for these children as they're going through some sort of crisis."
MORE FROM YOU'RE NOT ALONE
The BBC said it also sent FOI requests to 500 primary schools in England about serious mental health.
It found that 191 primary school pupils had self-harmed on school grounds in the last four years, according to data from 155 schools.
The shocking figures also revealed that four pupils have attempted to kill themselves on primary school grounds over the last four years.
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