Most GPs are working beyond their competence in dealing with mental health issues and are struggling to secure help, including for suicidal children, a new poll suggests. The survey from Pulse, which specialises in primary care reporting, found around 38% of GP consultations now have a mental health element, compared with 25% pre-Covid.
Seven in 10 GPs said they were working beyond their competence in dealing with children’s mental health issues, while 63% said the same for adults. Many were battling to get children seen by specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), with one GP based in south-east London saying: “I have not had a CAMHS referral accepted for at least the past two years – all rejected as ‘not actively suicidal, discharged to GP’.”
Another told Pulse: “CAMHS reject every single referral, even in children presenting to hospital with overdose.” The Royal College of Psychiatrists responded to the poll, saying it was seeing record referrals and there were not enough psychiatrists for the workload.
