Birmingham: Self-harm by child, 6, highlighted by inquiry

An inquiry by councillors in Birmingham found a mental health crisis for the city's children

A six-year-old child who was taken to their GP for self-harming was among harrowing mental health cases found by a council inquiry.

Children were struggling to get the support they needed in Birmingham, a report by councillors said.

One councillor also described how a young person in the city had to receive treatment 300 miles away in Glasgow.

The report said "abhorrent living conditions" due to the housing crisis were impacting mental health.

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The alarming report on whether the city is meeting young people's mental health needs was discussed at a Birmingham City Council meeting.

In the example of the six-year-old, the inquiry heard their mum was forced to visit her GP because her child was self-harming but was told to go to the school for support.

A survey of 28 staff and volunteers who work with young people has reportedly shown a "sharp increase" in mental health worries at school, including children who are "crying every day" and extremely body-conscious.

The inquiry's report continued: "There is an increase in tummy aches and minor illnesses where we as a school cannot identify real reason for absence but know there is more happening behind the scenes at home.

"Cost-of-living, family breakdowns, bereavements all have contributed to these issues."

'Not getting help'

Summing up the results of the survey, the report said: "Children are bounced from the school to their GP back and forth as there are systemic failures."

It continued that GP referrals are "rejected or take months to reach appointment" and that "the care is bad even with a suicidal child".

Early help services were found to be hard to access, while families were found to be on a "merry-go-round" of signposting, leading to people not getting help and "just [giving] up".

The report also highlighted a lack of empathy from staff responding to a telephone call when a young person is in a crisis.

Councillor Mick Brown, who was involved in the inquiry, told a meeting of the city council on Tuesday that there was also an urgent need for local beds when it came to mental health patients.

He said: "One particular under-21-year-old was actually placed in a unit in Glasgow from Birmingham and it's absolutely appalling - that situation in my view would never occur if someone's got a physical health issue.

"After a lifetime in health and social care, I have seen so many cases where unresolved issues have gone on to affect young people for their entire lives."

'A lost Covid generation'

Councillor Kerry Jenkins urged the government to "take stock of the exponentially growing need" for mental health services and "fund and staff them suitably".

She said: "To not do so will result in a mental health pandemic and a whole generation of children who will go on into adulthood with enduring and serious mental health conditions.

"The fact [young people] cannot access the appropriate support is simply not acceptable.

"We cannot have a lost Covid generation - there must be government investment in mental health services."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.