Mental health services and charities have seen an astronomical increase in young people suffering from anorexia, bulimia, and other disorders throughout the pandemic.
Figures released by NHS England show that 1,529 children and youth in the Yorkshire and the Humber were treated for suspected eating disorders in the 12 months to June 2021, an increase of 859 in the same period last year and 825 in the previous year.
Overall, the number has skyrocketed 85 percent in two years.
The data has been collected from community health care trusts in the region, including the Tees Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which covers most of North Yorkshire, as well as Teesside and County Durham.
NHS England mental health director Claire Murdoch said the health service had seen “a greater number than ever” of young people treated for life-threatening conditions.
Former Emmerdale actress Gemma Oaten, who has previously been open about how her battle with anorexia has affected her fertility and is now a manager and sponsor of the eating disorder charity SEED, said charities like hers were like “swans paddling for our lives underwater” As they faced an avalanche of families seeking their help.
“We saw a 68 percent increase in school-age children referred to us between 2019 and 2020, and I’m scared to think what those numbers are this year,” he said.
“Not only are we getting calls asking for some support now, we are seeing more and more people in crisis who have been turned away from the NHS because they cannot cope.
“It’s great that the government has committed to more funding for mental health, but we need more help in the voluntary sector for those in the gap.”
Data from the NHS England show that of 1,529 young people treated last year, 281 were urgent referrals, up from 130 the previous year.
NHS rules state that 95 percent of urgent cases must start treatment within one week and routine patients within four weeks, but the figures showed that some NHS Trusts were falling short, and Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust only managed to see 38 percent of emergencies. patients referred on time.
Ms Oaten added that anorexia now only accounted for 10 percent of the patients they were seeing, and that bulimia and binge eating were the most common disorders.
He also claimed that recent government campaigns to tackle obesity had impacted young people, without their strategies focusing enough on the mental health aspect of the problem.
Claire Murdoch said the pandemic had taken a toll on the country’s mental health, but that most staff had responded quickly to treat young people with eating disorders, with the help of additional government funding and the deployment of dedicated services.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Work said: “As part of our Mental Health Recovery Action Plan, we are investing £ 79 million to expand mental health services for children and open services for eating disorders. 2,000 more young people. Early intervention and treatment are vital. “
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Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-08-19 05:00:53
