Research from the University of Cambridge highlights significant barriers to mental health support for children in care, amid rising demand and systemic gaps in NHS services.
A University of Cambridge study has found that children in care, and those subject to child protection plans, are far more likely than other children to need mental health support, yet only a minority are reaching specialist services. The research, published in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, analysed NHS data from 2020-21 and found that just 9% to 18% of children in these groups had contact with mental health services over the course of a year. It comes against a backdrop of rising demand for child and adolescent care, with almost two million children in England referred to, or supported by, specialist services during the year studied.
The findings add to a wider body of research showing that care-experienced children and young people often face poorer mental health than their peers. A systematic review published in the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal found an emerging evidence base for interventions, but said it remains unclear whether current approaches reduce inequalities or make them worse. Other studies have linked out-of-home care with higher odds of specific mental health difficulties, including reactive attachment disorder, and have highlighted the importance of screening at the point children enter care and again during placement.
The Cambridge researchers also said the problem is not only one of demand, but of access. They described cases in which children were turned away by child and adolescent mental health services, or CAMHS, because their needs were considered too complex or too closely tied to social circumstances. One example involved a 12-year-old girl in residential care who had attempted to take her own life but was not offered help. Another involved a 12-year-old boy whose referral was rejected after an apparent overdose and a foster placement breakdown. Professor Robbie Duschinsky said the team had seen “countless cases” in which children were denied treatment because their living situation was judged too difficult for mental health services and more suitable for social care.
The study also found that use of mental health services appeared to level off or fall at 17 and 18, even though late adolescence is a period of heightened risk. Dr Barry Coughlan said many children and young people who most need help are still missing out on referrals and support. Earlier research has pointed to long-standing barriers between social care and mental health provision, including weak communication between systems, poor coordination and limited training, all of which can leave vulnerable children stuck between services.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
