THE number of referrals to Cumbria's mental health service for children has rocketed in just 12 months, new figures show.

There were 2,520 referrals to experts within the children and adolescent mental health service during the 2015/16 year.

The figure jumped to 3,156 last year - continuing a worrying five-year trend for rising mental health referrals in the county - as more under-18s battled issues such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders than ever before and demand for autism assessments remained high.

But according to information obtained by children's charity the NSPCC, 372 referrals - or more than one in 10 - were turned away without being seen after clinicians decided they did not need CAMHS services after all.

A spokesman for CAMHS, which is run by the Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust, said better understanding of mental health issues was one of the reasons behind the sharp rise in referrals brought forward last year.

"The figures for Cumbria reflect the national picture and we know that mental health awareness is everyone's business so we welcome the NSPCC's call to change the focus from crisis intervention to early intervention in order to prevent young people reaching mental health crisis.

"The trust does currently have waiting lists in our community CAMHS services, however they have recently recruited three international doctors which will go some way to reducing these."

They added every referral was assessed by a team of clinicians within CAMHS to determine which service could best meet their needs.

"Any child who does not meet the criteria for the NHS run service is always referred to the most appropriate service for their needs. No child in Cumbria is refused support," the spokesman went on.

"Some emotional wellbeing needs can be met by those working with young people in schools, youth services etc.

"Only those with moderate to severe mental health issues need to be seen by CAMHS, the tier-three service run by Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust."

In Cumbria, CPFT bosses claim any child with an urgent referral is seen as soon as possible - many on the same day and all within a week.

National guidelines state they must be seen within 48 hours.

Anyone who is deemed to need tier-two support - for mild to moderate mental health issues - is referred to MyTime Cumbria, a service that provides counselling and therapies for children with mild to moderate symptoms of low mood, anxiety, depression or self-harm.

The NSPCC states as many as 100,000 children a year are turned away from CAMHS services nationwide after being referred.

The charity added the length of time spent on waiting lists had become a postcode lottery for youngsers - with some waiting just two days in some areas to five-and-a-half months in others.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said: “It is desperately sad to see so many young people facing distress around mental health issues being forced to wait months for assessment by CAMHS, many of whom are then rejected for treatment altogether.

"This risks leaving them in limbo while their condition potentially reaches crisis point.

“We recognise the hard work of mental health professionals in trying to help young people get their lives back on track.

"However, too many children who need help are struggling access support and treatment which can help them to recover.

"The government’s upcoming Green Paper on mental health must urgently evaluate the early support systems available to young people to ensure that no child is left to suffer in silence."


What is CAMHS?

The Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

Run by the NHS, it treats under 18s with moderate to severe mental health needs.

In Cumbria, the service is run by the Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust.

There are tiers of mental health provision for children and teenagers; CAMHS is tier three.

There is no tier four service - or inpatient units - in Cumbria. Anyone who needs tier-four help will have to travel outside of the county.


Referrals factfile

:: According to the NSPCC, CAMHS services within 65 trusts across England received 317,845 referrals in 2015/16.

:: 11,222 of these were rejected by CAMHS and passed on to other services.

:: In 2016/17, the number of referrals to CAMHS had increased to 334,447.

:: 13,978 were rejected.