More than two-fifths of children in east and north Hertfordshire referred to the Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) had their referral closed before treatment in 2020/21 - the highest rate in the country.

Children's Commissioner figures show 41 per cent of children referred to CYPMHS in the area had their referral closed before treatment in 2020/21, compared to just eight per cent in East Sussex, Liverpool and Leeds.

Doctor Jane Halpin, chief executive of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), which commissions our health services, said: “The Children’s Commissioner’s figures for our area include children whose cases have been marked as ‘closed’ because they did not require specialist treatment, chose not to have further treatment, or were referred to other services for treatment.

“We believe this is why the figures for our area appear to be so high."

However, the Children's Commissioner said these types of cases have been included nationally.

Dr Halpin continued: "Other ICB areas may have different processes and a smaller range of service providers – so children will not follow the same referral processes or access treatments in the same ways in different areas."

She said supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children, young people and their families is a priority, with support coming from school-based services, specialist mental health providers, the county council and voluntary sector organisations.

“In common with the rest of the country, demand for child and adolescent mental health services in Hertfordshire has increased due to the impact of the pandemic," Dr Halpin said.

"More funding has been put into this area to help to meet the demand for support, with more therapists and counsellor appointments funded and a range of new services put in place."

She also pointed to an expansion of mental health support teams in Herts schools, and said Hertfordshire is the first place in the UK to have a dedicated team providing support to pupils in special educational needs schools.

The Children's Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, said: "This is a generation of children and young people who both understand the concept of mental health and know best about what will benefit them. In the wake of the pandemic, it is more crucial than ever that we take the time to listen to them and give them the support they need."

Sources of help and support for children and families: If a child or young person in your family is experiencing mental health difficulties, there are a number of sources of advice and support, including:

• a new service you can access without speaking to a GP, which is suitable for children aged five and above. The ‘With YOUth’ service withyouth.org provides support to children and young people with problems such as mild to moderate anxiety, behavioural difficulties, school attendance, low mood, relationship difficulties, bullying or self-harm. There is a free helpline on 0208 189 8400, staffed from Monday to Friday between 2pm and 10pm, and a free, fun, therapeutic digital gaming app, designed to help seven to 12 year olds with their fears and worries.

• Hertfordshire’s children and young people and their parents or care givers can seek help with mild to moderate eating disorders by contacting First Steps at firststepsed.co.uk/make-a-referral.

• Young people aged 11 to 19 can use the ChatHealth texting service on 07480 635050 or register free with Kooth, for confidential and safe support online at kooth.com.

• Parents and carers can also ask their school or GP for support or, if they have pre-school children, contact the Hertfordshire Family Centre Service on 0300 123 7572 or hertsfamilycentres.org.

• In an emergency, anyone in Hertfordshire who needs urgent mental health support can call 0800 6444 101, or 111 (selecting option 2), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A specialist clinician is always on duty to provide advice to families and professionals about children and young people in a mental health crisis and/or to arrange an assessment if required.