Grieving mother calls for child mental health law

Phoebe Macias was found dead at her home in Hastings

The mother of a teenager who took her own life is calling for a new law to ensure children under 15 who need mental health support will see a GP within two weeks.

Phoebe Macias, 14, was found dead at her home in Hastings in July and her family said she received no mental health support before her death.

She was taken to her local GP practice in January after she started to self-harm, but did not receive a referral to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Sussex until April.

A government spokesperson said it was "determined" to address long waiting times, but Phoebe's mother Tamzin Abbott said: "It’s taking people to die for us to be able to do something.”

She says something has to change "as soon as possible" as children are often vulnerable during the first stages of a mental health crisis.

“They are confused and don’t know what is going on.”

The mother said the change could "save a lot of lives".

Ms Abbott (right) says Phoebe would be "very proud" of her campaigning

Previously Ms Abbott called for specialist doctors to be introduced at GP surgeries to prevent future deaths.

A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said: “It is unacceptable that too many children and young people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long. We are determined to change that.

“As part of our mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future, this government will ensure there is access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England, and recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to reduce delays and provide faster treatment.”

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Ms Abbott said: "I think Phoebe would have been very proud with what I am doing because I know she wouldn’t have wanted another family to go through what we are going through.”

She says she also wants more awareness of children's mental health issues and a phone line for parents of children who are struggling.

A post-mortem examination has taken place though a date has yet to be set for an inquest, the family said.