Numbers of young people being referred to mental health services more than doubled.

The number of young people referred to mental health services has more than doubled since 2010.

Back in December of 2010, 1,200 under 18 year olds were waiting for their first appointment, this has risen to 2,500 in December 2014.

Mark Drakeford, Health Minister has said the service faced “ever increasing demand”.

This report comes after assembly members last year could not cope with the demand of mental health services for children and young people in Wales.

The Welsh Government has said they have increased the mental health spending budget from £389m in 2009-2010 to a whopping £587m for 2014-2015.

The Welsh government has said it had begun working on the issue, but still have concerns and asked if enough money was being put into the service.

In England the budget is split between local councils. The mental health charity, Mind sent out requests to 152 local authorities to find out how much money is being put aside for mental health services in 2014-2015. Of these 86 replied, they planned to spend £76m on increasing physical activity. Yet only £40m on public mental health.

From people I have spoken to who suffer from mental health problems, I would find that mental health services are just as important as any other. And yet are having a lot less spent on them.

If a service is under so much strain why would less money be pumped into it? Each year 13.3million work days are lost to depression, anxiety and stress. The increase in under 18 year olds already being referred to mental health services can only unfortunately mean this number will only escalate.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-31631430

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29792386

Image: https://voicesofyouth.wordpress.com/category/mental-health-2/

#study #mentalhealth #depression #Wales #youth #anxiety #stress