Worksop mum’s battle for better young people’s mental health treatment

Rachel Hodges, 44, says it was while trying to find help for her own children she realised what a ‘massive gap’ there was in treatment provision for youngsters.

Counsellor Rachel, who specialises in treating families who have lost babies, told how her daughter waited eight weeks to hear from mental health specialists while suffering with severe anxiety.

The 14-year-old was unable to attend school due to a crippling fear of public places.

Mum Rachel told how two months after her initial assessment Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services wrote to the family recommending the teen seek treatment at a local counselling service.

Trained counsellor Rachel was able to help her daughter to ‘work through’ her problems during their wait but she added ‘why has it taken eight weeks to even acknowledge her?’

She said: “There has been no letter, no phone call, nothing from the counselling service - it’s like a 14-year-old does not matter.

“Can you imagine what that must be like when your child is self-harming and you’re at the point in time when you think their life might be ending?”

Rachel fears children are being put at risk of harm while confined with families blighted by abusive relationships during the coronavirus crisis.

She said: “There are now children who cannot escape to school or to friends’ houses so there’s only one way they can go - it will happen.

“At the moment it’s more important than ever that families know what to do and that we listen to our young people.

“When you see people posting on social media about teenagers hanging around when they should be self-isolating it’s possible for some young people that this is their only escape.”

READ MORE: Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith self-isolates with coronavirus

Rachel - who is training to become a specialist in counselling children, young people and their families - hopes to work with local schools and clubs training young people how to find and access help when they need it.

Working with MP Brendan Clarke-Smith she also hopes to attract Government funding to help improve young people’s access to mental health support in Bassetlaw.