Mental health experiences of children and young people in Portsmouth
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Healthwatch Portsmouth receives ad hoc feedback from members of the public sharing negative experiences when seeking information, diagnoses, or treatment for children with social, emotional, mental wellbeing, neuro-divergent and behavioural conditions. Local feedback echoes national and local data confirming escalating levels of anxiety, depression and eating disorders in school aged children and young adults.
They undertook an survey and reviewed eight sources of pre-existing information that capture detailed feedback from 1,534 children and young people and 125 parents and carers in Portsmouth.
- Many young people are unsure how to seek mental health support, and may be discouraged due to stigma, fear, anxiety and long waiting times.
- 95% of Portsmouth parents and carers have encountered hurdles when attempting to get support for themselves and their children
- 90% of parents said their needs were not met due to poor or confusing signposting and often being passed from one service point to another