The number of children that RedArc supported across all types of conditions increased by 57% between 2020 and 2023, and mental health consistently accounted for 30% of these cases during all three years and this is set to continue. With national demand for mental health support for children and young people at an all-time high, parents are looking to access care from all sources available to them.
State of the nation
Over 5 million children and young people under 25 have been in contact with mental health services in 2023-2024, an increase of 25.7 per cent from 2021-22 but according to a report from NHS Providers1, 82 per cent of trusts surveyed were unable to meet the demand for under-18s’ support. This shows the extent of the mental health crisis in the UK and underlines why RedArc has seen such an increase in need.
Christine Husbands, commercial director, RedArc said: “This is a Covid-generation who missed crucial stages of their development due to school closures and a lack of other social interactions. There is no doubt that these events, or a lack thereof, had an overwhelming impact on their mental health. It’s crucial that timely support is provided because if not, their condition may deteriorate, meaning a longer period of recovery, and a delay could also have serious consequences for their mental health in adulthood. However, when support is provided early on it can set children up well with a resilience that they can call upon later in life.”
Support for parents and guardians
RedArc’s support for children is via their parents and guardians, and includes helping parents navigate the NHS, directing to the most appropriate support, identifying local specialist support groups, and arranging tailored therapies to best support the child. However, in doing so, RedArc often finds the parents and guardians also need support, and it warns that their wellbeing must not be overlooked.
When a child is physically or mentally ill, it can be seriously draining for the parent or guardian, and put significant additional stress on the whole household, relationships and finances. So as well as providing support aimed at the child’s condition, RedArc is also able to give carers a professional shoulder to lean on so they can focus on their own wellbeing. In many cases, it is the emotional support and someone to talk to outside of immediate family that is required, but the parent or guardian may also be provided with practical help, structured therapy and signposted to charities or other groups where they can share their experiences with, and be supported by, others in a similar situation.
Christine Husbands continued: “Parents are increasingly finding it hard to access support for children, with one of the reasons being that this area requires specialist training and skills. Professionals with experience in this field are much sought-after and can be a lifeline to both the child and the parent.
“Support for children needs to be prioritised by all as the impact is felt not just by them but by their parents and their wider families too.”
