“Unacceptable” waiting times for children with mental health issues in Newcastle and Gateshead

Full story at ChronicleLive 23 April 2018 

Waiting times for children’s mental health services are ‘unacceptable’ councillors have said, as 3,500 children across Newcastle and Gateshead are seeking help for mental health issues.

There are currently 600 children on the waiting list for mental health support in Newcastle and Gateshead and two young people have waited over seven months for an appointment.

Councillors were told at Gateshead Council’s Health and Wellbeing board meeting on Friday that the number of children self-harming in Gateshead is significantly higher than the national average, and has been so for some years.