Mental health referrals for young people and children in Newcastle and Gateshead have increased by more than 50% from 2021 to 2023, after a "tsunami" of referrals post Covid.
Newcastle and Gateshead's 'Single Point of Access' (SPA), has seen the number of young people referred to their mental health triage service increase from 3,896 in 2020 to 5,972 in 2023. Many of these children and young people are subsequently waiting over 18 weeks to be referred to the most appropriate form of mental health support.
Figures presented to councillors in Gateshead Civic Centre on Thursday afternoon show just under 1,500 young people are awaiting neurodevelopmental referrals for conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
