RedArc has reported a 57 per cent increase in the support it provides for children over the past three years – with a third of these being for mental health.
RedArc offers nursing helpline and support services via group risk policies and on a standalone basis to larger employers.
It says the number of children it supports has continued to grow with mental health conditions accounting for around 30 per cent of cases. It says it expects this trend to continue as national demand for mental health support for children and young people reaches an all-time high, and parents parents often facing delays to access support and help via primate healthcare services.
It says that according to a report from NHS Providers 82 per cent of trusts surveyed were unable to meet the demand for under-18s’ mental health support. This report showed that a total of over 5 million children and young people under 25 have been in contact with mental health services in 2023-2024, an increase of 25.7 per cent from 2021-22
RedArc commercial director Christine Husbands says:This is a Covid-generation who missed crucial stages of their development due to school closures and a lack of other social interactions.
“There is no doubt that these events, or a lack thereof, had an overwhelming impact on their mental health. It’s crucial that timely support is provided because if not, their condition may deteriorate, meaning a longer period of recovery, and a delay could also have serious consequences for their mental health in adulthood. However, when support is provided early on it can set children up well with a resilience that they can call upon later in life.”
RedArc’s support for children is via their parents and guardians, and includes helping parents navigate the NHS, directing to the most appropriate support, identifying local specialist support groups, and arranging tailored therapies to best support the child. However, in doing so, RedArc often finds the parents and guardians also need support, and it warns that their wellbeing must not be overlooked.
When a child is physically or mentally ill, it can be seriously draining for the parent or guardian, and put significant additional stress on the whole household, relationships and finances. This can lead to absenteeism and presenteeism int he workplace if parents are anxious and stressed about these issues.
RedArc also offers parents and guardians a professional shoulder to lean on so they can focus on their own wellbeing. This may include practical help, structured therapy and signposted to charities or other groups where they can share their experiences with, and be supported by, others in a similar situation.
Husbands adds: “Parents are increasingly finding it hard to access support for children.Support for children needs to be prioritised by all as the impact is felt not just by them but by their parents and their wider families too.”
