Characteristics of referrals to a mental health service for young people in care

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Abstract
This paper describes the characteristics of referrals to a new direct access child mental health service for young people in the care of the local authority, during the first six months (n=32). Consistent problems emerged within four areas: their histories within the care service (n=18, 56% had had at least one more previous placement); their individual experiences of abuse (n=23, 72%) and the lack of mental health support provided to redress this; their overall poor educational status; and the psychopathology evident at the time of referral (n=29, 91% had ICD–10 diagnoses, mainly mixed depressive conduct disorders).