The mental health crisis in A&E for the u18s

According to the Guardian Newspaper an NHS psychiatrist, whose work involves serving on wards in an inpatient unit, providing on-call medical assistance, and treating adults and children who have been referred to me by A&E staff. A significant number of under-18s come to A&E in a mental health crisis seeking support, brought in by their family, friends, or ambulance crew.

‘There is an increased number of u18s coming in’

These young people can be divided into three groups: the first group has a severe, enduring mental illness like a first episode or recurrence of psychosis. The second group has committed self-harm or had suicidal thoughts, which may have resulted in severe injuries. The third group presents with depression, low mood, or behavioral challenges, and their diagnosis is often unclear. They may be struggling due to various stresses, whether social or educational.

‘Is the NHS equipped to handle mental health’

These young people are vulnerable and need timely care. NHS mental health services have a responsibility to provide help quickly to facilitate their recovery. However, waiting times for care are a significant concern since delays can worsen their condition. The current state of mental healthcare for under-18s in the UK is inadequate, and we are letting young people and their families down. We should all be concerned about the situation and if you are a parent, would you be worried about seeking mental health support for your child. All of these young people are in desperate need of help, but often they are unable to access the necessary care. They may have been referred to NHS mental health services but have waited for months to see someone. Waiting for mental health care can be damaging, particularly for young people. With mental health conditions, the longer the wait for care after displaying symptoms, the more challenging the condition becomes to treat. Waiting also affects the young person’s ability to establish and maintain friendships, perform well in school, and may lead to social isolation. Delayed treatment can adversely affect their life chances. Not receiving treatment for mental health conditions can worsen the young person’s state of mind, leading to self-harm or suicidal thoughts. A&E is not an ideal place for young people with mental health issues since it is noisy and crowded, exacerbating their anxiety. Unfortunately, the number of under-18s coming to A&E for mental health reasons has increased due to the pandemic, and waiting times for mental health care outside hospitals appear to be getting worse.

‘Would you send your child?’

Sending a clear message to the prospects that the organization has their welfare in mind and considers it as its priority by stating “How Can I help you” will go a long way in making them open up easily. Though it is not easy to please all the consumers all the time, it will definitely open up the channel of communication and bring in suggestions for new and better communication. In short, for an organization looking to bring in or develop more leads, it needs to bring in a major shift in its style of working from marketing and only sales to problem detecting and problem-solving.