The “revolution in child mental healthcare” that was promised seems to be nowhere in sight.
The pledge made by the Conservatives to revolutionise child mental healthcare has now been exposed as false.
Samantha Lethbridge of Borehamwood, Herts, had to sell her home to pay for her daughter’s care privately.
Samantha wrote an open letter to David Cameron to complain about the treatment of children like hers.
In the letter Samantha explained how her daughter’s illness was repeatedly misdiagnosed and not taken seriously.
Samantha recalled a time when her daughter was told by a nurse, shortly before a suicide bid, to “read a book”.
And Samantha isn’t the only one.
She has carried out a poll online of roughly 1,000 families in the same situation.
With expert advice, Samantha formed a poll to gauge the satisfaction with the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (C.A.M.H.S.).
It found that 78% of people felt “let down” with 41% were forced to pay for private care like Samantha.
In contrast to the promises made, 38% said their C.A.M.H.S. was “being cut” and 20% said the effects of cuts meant their child was discharged.
Samantha told The Mirror: “The Government said it was ploughing money into children’s mental health. Why doesn’t it seem to be there?”
With the numbers of young people with mental health issues doubling since 2010, this is clearly a major issue and one not to be ignored.
