Inequalities in children's mental health care: analysis of routinely collected data on prescribing and referrals to secondary care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

One in eight children in the United Kingdom are estimated to have a mental health condition, and many do not receive support or treatment. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mental health and disrupted the delivery of care. Prevalence of poor mental health is not evenly distributed across age groups, by sex or socioeconomic groups. Equity in access to mental health care is a policy priority but detailed socio-demographic trends are relatively under-researched.

Methods

We analysed records for all mental health prescriptions and referrals to specialist mental health outpatient care between the years of 2015 and 2021 for children aged 2 to 17 years in a single NHS Scotland health board region. We analysed trends in prescribing, referrals, and acceptance to

SUBMITTER: Ball WP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9831880 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature