Mental health crisis support for young people cut to weekdays only in northwest

The Card Before You Leave scheme, which provides young people experiencing a mental health crisis with a written appointment for specialist care before leaving hospital emergency departments, has been reduced in the northwest, BBC reported.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) said the scheme now operates only Monday to Friday and is not available on weekends and bank holidays due to financial pressures, according to BBC.

Londonderry GP Dr Joe McEvoy expressed concern that the reduction further weakens an already limited service for families managing young people in distress, as reported by BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

WHSCT stated the reduction began in August as part of wider savings measures and will be kept under review. The change affects only young people assessed as low risk who present out of hours; these patients are now assessed by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services on the next working day instead of the next calendar day.

For young people assessed as high risk, there has been no change to the arrangements, WHSCT said, according to the BBC.