Healthwatch South Tyneside is calling for waiting times for initial mental health consultations and diagnosis for young people in the borough to be reduced significantly in a new report.
Latest data* shows the number of new under-18 referrals to secondary mental health services in the borough is significantly higher than the national rate.
In South Tyneside this was 15,685 per 100,000 in 2022/23, 62 per cent higher than the national rate of 9,684 per 100,000 and 23 per cent above the regional rate of 12,763 per 100,000. The recent trend for this indicator is increasing.
Young people’s mental health was selected as a key priority in Healthwatch’s Operational Plan in response to feedback we had picked up via signposting contacts and our work out in the community.
Thirty voluntary sector organisations and statutory services we contacted agreed to share our details with the young people they supported or relevant colleagues, and Healthwatch visited five of the organisations.
An online survey was shared on their social media platforms, newsletters, bulletins and within their groups. We also took out a sponsored post on Facebook and Instagram, which generated more than 300 click-throughs to the online survey link.
The survey asked questions including who young people sought support from if they were struggling with their mental health, how they rated their experience of local mental health services and how services could be improved, including those offered in schools.
We received 53 survey responses and common themes included long lead-in times for mental health support, the way young people felt they were spoken to by health professionals and a call for more promotion of available support.
Comments included:
“Why does everything take so long? We need help when it’s in front of us – not in a year or two.”
“Professionals need to listen more to young people who are struggling. I’ve had a few experiences where professionals have spoken over me. This made me feel kind of like I didn’t matter.”
“I think there should be a lot more advertising of what support is out there.”
One service which was singled out for praise by a number of respondents was Stopping Unsafe Relationships Together (SURT).
In the report, Healthwatch has called on the commissioners and providers of mental health services for young people in South Tyneside to ‘significantly reduce’ the waiting times for initial consultations and diagnosis.
It also recommends increased signposting to other appropriate services to help reduce waiting times and for more promotion of mental health services for young people in places such as schools, colleges, community venues, cinemas, fast food outlets, public transport – as well as via targeted online campaigns.
The full report can be read here.
* Intelligence Update – January 2026, South Tyneside Council
