Burnout fears for children’s mental health workers amid increasing demand

Joe Lepper reports for Children and Young People Now about the findings of a survey on children and young people’s mental health services.

The survey in question was conducted by NHS Providers in May 2021 and involved leaders from more than half of NHS trusts that support children and young people’s mental health. The survey found that the demand for young people’s mental health support has increased over the last six months.

According to the survey, the increased demand is having an impact on the emotional wellbeing of mental health workers, with 83% of trust leaders expressing concern over their workforces’ wellbeing.

Other challenges and concerns the survey highlights are:

• the mental health needs of children and young people being “more acute and complex than in the past”
• a lack of inpatient mental health beds for children and young people
• an increase in waiting times
• lack in numbers, quality and mix of staff in many trusts
• concerns over meeting demand within the next 12 to 18 months