Written evidence submitted by Andrew Gregory, Health Correspondent, Daily Mirror (CMH0199)
INTRODUCTION
1. I currently hold the position of Health Correspondent at the Daily Mirror. I was appointed to the position in September 2012, and was previously a Staff Reporter at the Daily Mirror. I am responsible for the newspaper’s health coverage.
2. In February 2014, the Daily Mirror published the results of an investigation I conducted into the subject of children’s mental health. The newspaper has subsequently published several other investigative stories I have written on the subject.
3. I am submitting written evidence to the House of Commons Health Select Committee Inquiry into children's and adolescent mental health and CAMHS based on what I have discovered while investigating the subject of children’s mental health.
EVIDENCE
4. In February 2014, the Daily Mirror published the results of an investigation I conducted into children’s mental health. The full story can be read here: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/child-depression-scandal-ill-kids-3129996
5. During my investigation, I discovered a worrying lack of publicly available data on the prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people, and specific numbers of those receiving treatment. By using figures obtained from NHS organisations under the Freedom of Information Act, I was able to gain an insight into both the prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people, and the numbers receiving treatment. Using the figures, I was able to reveal that thousands of children aged 10 or under are being treated for mental health disorders.
6. The figures revealed that South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is treating more than 800 children aged 10 or under for stress, anxiety or depression every year. The Trust treated 814 children aged 10 or under in 2012, 837 in 2011, 863 in 2010, 844 in 2009 and 764 in 2008. The Trust treated 1,826 children aged 15 or under for the same conditions in 2012, 1,753 in 2011, 1,652 in 2010, 1,558 in 2009, and 1,330 in 2008.
7. The figures revealed that South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust treated 102 children aged 10 or under for stress, anxiety or depression in 2012, 37 in 2011, 34 in 2010, 51 in 2009 and 45 in 2008. The Trust treated 336 children aged 15 or under for the same conditions in 2012, 152 in 2011, 143 in 2010, 174 in 2009 and 139 in 2008.
8. In total, the two Trusts treated 4,391 children aged 10 or under for stress, anxiety or depression in the last five years. In total, the two Trusts treated 9,063 children aged 15 or under for stress, anxiety or depression in the last five years.
9. Five other NHS Trusts surveyed under the Freedom of Information Act – Mersey Care NHS Trust, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust – said they did not have any specific data available relating to stress, anxiety or depression.
10. Two other NHS Trusts surveyed under the Freedom of Information Act – Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – said it would take too long to retrieve the data requested, and declined to release figures on cost grounds.
11. One other NHS trust surveyed under the Freedom of Information Act – North East London NHS Foundation Trust – said it was “not able to provide the specific information by diagnosis as historically there has not been any requirement to report this information”.
12. During the course of my investigation, I also spoke to a number of doctors, psychiatrists, mental health experts, mental health charities, and families of children and young people suffering from mental health disorders. A number of families and medical professionals also contacted me after my investigation was published, some on condition of anonymity, to raise further areas of concern relating to children's mental health and access to CAMHS.
13. The majority of people I interviewed about the subject broadly shared two main conclusions.
14. The first was that the number of children and young people, in particular children aged 10 or under, suffering from mental health problems is increasing. A number of explanations were suggested to me for this trend. One was the impact of bullying, not only in the classroom and the playground, but also increasingly via social media, the internet and mobile phones. Another was the number of assessments, tests and exams that children and young people face today on a regular basis. A third reason was a concern that children face more pressure to “fit in” than they have ever faced before.
15. The second conclusion was that children and young people are being let down because they have less access to early intervention mental health services as budgets for these services are reduced. A survey by the charity YoungMinds, which was highlighted in my investigation, found that 34 of 51 councils surveyed had reduced spending on child and adolescent mental health services since 2010.
16. Medical professionals told me they were concerned that without sufficient access to such services, such as parenting programmes, social workers or mental health specialists, mental health problems affecting children and young people would only get worse. It was suggested to me that any reduction of early intervention budgets to try and save money in the short term would only end up costing the NHS, local councils and the economy more in the long term. In addition, it was suggested to me that that the only way to reduce the cost of mental health problems in the long term was to increase the amount spent on mental health services for children and young people now.
17. While investigating the lack of publicly available data on the prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people, I found that the national child and adolescent psychiatric morbidity survey – which provides an accurate picture of prevalence of mental health disorders in children – has not been updated since 2004. A number of psychiatrists and doctors I interviewed expressed indignation that this survey has not been carried out for over a decade.
18. I have been told that a new survey would provide vital data on children and young people’s mental health in 2014, and improve the commissioning and delivery of children's mental health services. It would likely also confirm what I have discovered in my investigation, which is that thousands of children and young people are suffering from mental health disorders – and that the numbers are increasing. In my opinion, the danger of not having complete, up to date data on prevalence of mental health disorders in children and young people cannot be underestimated.
RECOMMENDATIONS
19. In order to tackle children's mental health problems, and prevent a new generation from becoming adults with mental health disorders, I would recommend that funding of mental health services – both via the NHS and local government – should match funding of services related to physical health.
20. I would also recommend the immediate commissioning of a new national child and adolescent psychiatric morbidity survey. Health minister Norman Lamb has publicly conceded this month that “there needs to be an up-to-date study”, and has suggested he will “find a way to do it”.
21. However, following his public comments, I have subsequently discovered that the Department of Health currently has no specific plans to launch a new survey. It has neither set a date for when such a survey may launch, nor determined who will administer any such survey. Medical professionals have raised serious concerns with me that no survey will take place this side of next year's general election.
4 April 2014