‘I tried to take my own life. They told me I’d have to wait a month for help’

‘I tried to take my own life. They told me I’d have to wait a month for help’ | Mary O’Hara Despite government promises, mental health services are still failing young people. Here, some of those affected speak out

The word “crisis” comes up a lot whenever children and young people’s mental health is mentioned. Whether it’s youngsters in desperate need of acute care being sent hundreds of miles away for treatment due to local bed shortages, failure to receive help even after their GP has referred them for specialist care, or enduring problems with NHS child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs), patients under 18 find it increasingly difficult to access the support they need. The Guardian