'We're having to turn away young people in crisis'

A youth mental health charity in East Sussex says it is having to turn away people in crisis due to a lack of funding.

Eggtooth in Hastings told the BBC it could no longer support some young people with serious mental health challenges after the NHS stopped funds.

A spokesperson for NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB said they had supported the charity with "time-limited" and "non-recurrent" funding for four years.

"Unfortunately there is no dedicated budget available to continue this specific service," they continued.

"Hastings is one of the more deprived areas in the county," said Eggtooth co-director Jade Parker.

"Our main concern is for the young people in the town whose needs aren't going to be met," she continued.

"The knock-on effect of this is going to be a mental health crisis."

One in five children and young people between the ages of eight and 25 in England are now thought to have a mental health disorder, according to official figures.

Parker said early intervention was vital to prevent a "cascade of needs", which could ultimately cost the NHS and society more in the long run, including through increased hospital visits or worse educational outcomes.

Nansi Hitchman, another Eggtooth co-director, said the services provided by the charity were not offered elsewhere.

"We see a lot of young people that aren't being picked up by anyone else," she told the BBC.

"We're a local service. [We're] known to the community. [There's not] been any consultation with us to explore how we could continue the really important work we're doing.

"It is very concerning."

The spokesperson for NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB said Eggtooth had been given notice the funding would come to an end.

A one-year extension was agreed to support a planned and smooth transition to other mainstream services, they said.

They added there was a range of support available for young people from the NHS, alongside voluntary and community services.

Eggtooth says it has supported more than 900 young people experiencing mental health challenges in the last two years.

It says it is seeing "rising demand" and "increasing levels of distress among young people".

Hastings MP Helena Dollimore has urged the NHS ICB to "think again".

"All the evidence shows that when it comes to mental health, early intervention is key, which is why the local support Eggtooth offers is so important for the children and young people I represent," she said.

"While other local mental health services remain available, Eggtooth provide a key service for younger age groups at the early intervention stage, and for those who are currently not in school."

The Department for Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.

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