Can we beat the mental health time bomb?

“There will be improved access to psychological therapies for children and young people across the whole of England AND schools will be supported to identify mental health problems sooner."

Big promises huh? They're just numbers six and 17 of 25 points set out in the Government's mental health action plan, “Closing the Gap: priorities for essential change in mental health” today revealed by Nick Clegg and Norman Lamb.

I agree, it’s never been more vital that real action is taken to help young people suffering with mental health issues, quickly, but to also educate them, reduce the stigma in schools and help prevent them getting ill in the first place.

At the same time as the Deputy Prime Minister was pledging to take action on mental health across Britain, the charity Young Minds released shocking new statistics on what they call a ‘ticking time bomb’ about to explode in our schools if we don't take action. 

In the study, which coincides with the launch of their ‘YoungMindsVs’ campaign, the outlook appears to be bleak (and stressful) for those growing up in what the charity calls a ‘toxic climate’ – unless of course we all take joined-up action to change that.

We all remember the pressure of school, the exams, the bullies, the first boyfriends, your ‘first time’ and the dreaded parents’ evenings, but this is more than that. It seems young people are no longer coping with the mounting pressures piling up around them and they don't know what to do about it. 

YoungMind’s study of 2000 children and young people found that more than half “believe they will be a failure if they don’t get good grades” and around the same number have experienced bullying. 

From an eating disorders perspective, it’s extremely worrying that the poll also found “four out of ten 11-14 year olds skip meals to stay thin.” At the same time the Government identifies that “Half of those with lifetime mental health problems first experience symptoms by the age of 14; early identification and where necessary intervention can make a massive difference.” 

It's not the first time we've heard these warnings, only last week ChildLine reported a surge in the number of mental health related calls it's getting from young people battling with self-harm and suicidal thoughts.  

So professionals and politicians understand picking up on problems early reduces the risk of a life plagued by mental health problems, it also costs a hell of a lot less cash if it's caught early too. 

We know this is especially vital in eating disorders, they can be prevented and stopped in their tracks. It can mean life or death. Beat's Eating Disorders Waiting Times research echoes this. So maybe it’s time people see that skipped meal little more seriously, before that skipped meal in pursuit of thinness develops into full-blown anorexia nervosa?

But do young people feel able to ask for help?

Will they be listened to and taken seriously? 
AND where the heck do they go? 

It would seem at the moment they’re clueless. YoungMinds warn that; “a third don’t know where to turn to get help when they feel depressed or anxious.” 

This needs changing, quickly. Young people need to understand mental illnesses better, they need to understand themselves more and they need to know they’re not alone. It's vital they know where to go. 

But when they do speak up, is it is essential that the specialist services are there, the psychological therapists are ready and that young people are not kept on waiting lists, getting worse by the day. 

Under action point six in the Government’s pledge they say; “We want to do more to promote mental well being amongst children and young people, and prevent them from developing mental health problems.”

I agree, but it’s not about them WANTING to do more now, it’s an absolute necessity that funding isn't continually slashed from CAMHS budgets, that money is spent preventively, that professionals are educated and that we all take action to stop the spiral. 

With a ticking time-bomb ready to explode; we haven't got time to be cautious or worry about making a ‘fuss over nothing’ about a skipped meal or stressed out, grumpy teenager. Action needs to be taken. On all fronts – from Government, to health services and in classrooms – if we are going to avoid this bomb doing some serious damage, to everyone.

***

Find out more:

The Department for Health Closing the Gap: priorities for essential change in mental health publication.

Young Minds full information on the 'Toxic Climate' Research.

Young Minds 'YoungMindsVs' Campaign.

BEAT's Waiting Times for Eating Disorders treatment Research
ChildLine/NSPCC ''Can I Tell You Something' report

Follow this issue on Twitter; @YoungMindsUK @YoungMindsVs @BeatED @DepHealthPress @Nick_Clegg @NormanLamb @MindCharity and many more. 

The Dangerous ED Waiting Game

Eating disorders are mental illnesses that can have a devastating impact on those suffering and everyone around them. They can be fatal.  The longer someone battles with an illness like anorexia, the more consuming it becomes, the bigger the medical impact and the less likely they are to recover.

But recovery IS possible. That's why there's a fresh call for the Government to do more to help suffers make the break from their eating disorders and end a seriously dangerous waiting game.

Despite the need for quick intervention and care, research from the UK's leading eating disorder charity BEAT's found that more than a quarter (26%), that's one in four sufferers, have to wait longer than six months before they're referred to a specialist service. 

That's not the worst of it, 8% said they had to wait for longer than a year between seeking help from their GP and starting outpatient treatment. This is truly shocking and a seriously dangerous, heartbreaking waiting game. 

The poll of 500 eating disorder sufferers revealed shocking figures on NHS waiting times, which the charity says are 'unacceptable' and need parity with 18-week targets set out for physical health, and I say are just down right dangerous. 

As someone who's been let down and saved by NHS services, I know all too well the devastating reality of not getting specialist care before anorexia consumes someone's life. I wasn't taken seriously and was made to feel not 'sick enough' by a service. 

What happened? Well, even under the care of a community therapist who told me I just had 'low self-esteem' and issues with food, I dropped a significant amount of weight in a very short space of time. My BMI hit critical and THEN I was taken seriously, sort of. 

I moved GP and counties and was very nearly 'lost in the system' but after being given an 8-week wait for assessment following a referral from my GP, I broke down. I couldn't cope, no chance. I called the EDU and screamed that if I wasn't seen NOW, I wouldn't bother recovering and I'd die. 

They acted, I got seen, diagnosed with anorexia and treatment started within a matter of weeks. I know I'm one of the lucky ones. Even so, my weight plummeted further and I became more consumed by anorexia.

I dread to think what would have happened if I'd stuck with the original NHS waiting time? I have a feeling I may have become one of the 20% of sufferers who die from anorexia, making it the mental illness with the highest mortality rate. 

I'm not alone in not feeling 'sick enough' for treatment, 74% strongly agreed or agree that they were made to feel like this too, with 40% being told their BMI wasn't low enough to access treatment quickly. 

The problem is the longer someone goes without help with recovery, the more severe an eating disorder becomes. The poll found that almost three quarters of sufferers felt their illness became more severe whilst on a waiting list. Mine certainly did. 

Not only is the culture of leaving eating disorder sufferers on waiting lists with no clear targets seriously putting lives at risk, it's actually making the problem worse. Worse for the families and the friends of sufferers but for the NHS itself, because the longer someone has to wait for help fighting an eating disorder, the longer it takes to recover and let's be honest, the more it costs too. 

That's if sufferers haven't given up hope of recovery before they're seen;  60% said the longer they waited, the less motivated they were to even change.

Let's hope action is taken before it's too late, it's about time this dangerous waiting game was ended because recovery is possible, but waiting times make it a hell of a lot harder than it should be.

***

You can read more on BEATs research and download the full survey results here: FULL SURVEY 

See what BBC Newsround had to say on the poll's findings HERE
Read more about the work I'm doing in Staffordshire with my MP Jeremy Lefroy HERE

If you are on a waiting list or need to access treatment, please get in touch with BEAT and get help now. or call the helpline on 0845 634 1414