What barriers do young people face when trying to access care for self-harm? Healthwatch Bath and North East Somerset heard from young people with lived experience, carers and professionals.
Barriers include:
- long waiting times
- inconsistent information about the services and organisations that may be able to support people
- the need for those who self-harm and their loved ones to advocate for themselves in order to receive support
Children and young people’s mental health is a significant and growing concern in our area – and self-harm is a key indicator of distress and unmet need. But we heard that getting support can be confusing and emotionally taxing. Some only received support once they were in crisis.
Download our full report below.
Everybody is signposting… but who actually gets to be seen by a professional?
Bath and North East Somerset Council have confirmed funding extension for another year of the ICB-funded Youth Worker Pilot scheme at Royal United Hospital to support young people in hospital going back into communities.
Conversations with stakeholders who received this report are ongoing and any updates on the progress of our recommendations will be published on the Healthwatch Bath and North Somerset website.