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Number of children accessing mental health support triples in five years

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NHS figures show a sharp rise in young people accessing mental health services in Suffolk, mirroring a national trend experts say is driven by pandemic impacts and societal pressures.

The big picture: The number of under-18s receiving mental health support from NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board has jumped from 2,230 in June 2019 to 6,570 in June 2023.

  • This represents a tripling of young people accessing services in the area over five years.

Zooming out: Nationally, 460,000 children and young people were in contact with mental health services in June 2023, nearly double the number from five years ago.

Why it matters: The surge highlights growing mental health challenges facing young people in Ipswich and across the UK and the increased strain that places on health services and charities.

  • Poverty, discrimination, housing insecurity, and academic pressure are all contributing factors, according to youth mental health charity YoungMinds.

  • The charity's chief executive, Laura Bunt, said youth mental health is a "huge problem society can no longer turn away from".

What they're saying: "Support must be revolutionised," Bunt said, calling for the government to introduce early support hubs and involve young people in shaping health services.

The other side: The Department for Health and Social Care said it will provide "specialist mental health support in every school and walk-in Young Futures hubs in every community".

The bottom line: As demand for youth mental health services continues to rise, pressure is mounting on local and national authorities to expand support and address underlying causes.

St Stephens Church, The Baths and The Smokehouse in Ipswich

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Events from Brighten The Corners Presents and other promoters across The Baths, St Stephen’s Church and The Smokehouse venues.

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Brighten the Corners runs a diverse live music programme, training and education opportunities across three venues, and an annual multi-venue festival in Ipswich, Suffolk.

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Police appeal for witnesses and dash cam footage after female cyclist sustained serious head injuries in a collision at Copdock

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Suffolk Police are urging witnesses and drivers with dash cam footage to come forward following a serious collision between a cyclist and car at Copdock on Sunday.

Why it matters: Witness information and dash cam footage could be crucial for police investigating the serious crash that left a cyclist with severe injuries.

The big picture: The collision occurred at about 09:00 at the junction of Elm Lane and Wenham Road, involving a blue Suzuki Ignis and a cyclist. The female cyclist sustained serious head injuries and was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital, where she remains in a serious condition.

Key details:

  • The road was closed for about five and a half hours while police conducted investigations and cleared debris.

  • It reopened at about 14:30.

  • Police are specifically requesting dash cam footage from the area around the time of the incident.

How to help: Witnesses or those with relevant footage can contact roads policing in several ways:

St Stephens Church, The Baths and The Smokehouse in Ipswich

View upcoming gigs in Ipswich

Events from Brighten The Corners Presents and other promoters across The Baths, St Stephen’s Church and The Smokehouse venues.

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