We, as chartered psychologists (BPS), are delighted that the inadequate provision for children with mental health difficulties in the UK was highlighted (Shocking failures on children with ADHD, 4 August). We agree with the findings that there are considerable local differences in practice in this field. We note with concern the reported rise in prescriptions for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) between 2010 and 2015. We should not fall into the trap of believing that diagnosis and medication are the only, or the best, ways to address the emotional and behavioural problems of our children. There need to be national multi-agency collaborative pathways for the holistic assessment of children just as there has been for years with children on the autistic spectrum.
Medication should be the last resort after all other recommended interventions. It should only follow evaluation of the alternative therapies and strategies used, followed by careful monitoring of any side-effects. The BPS in its recent submission to the Nice consultation on ADHD called for a ban on prescribing these stimulants to children under five.
We call on the government to provide a greatly enhanced level of resources to make good their promise to give equal parity of esteem between mental and physical health for young people in our society.
Dave Traxson Chair, COPE (Campaign against the over-prescription of psychiatric drugs in education), Dr Cynthia Pinto Educational psychologist, secretary, COPE, Prof Peter Kindermann President, British Psychological Society 2016-17, Vivian Hill Course director, professional educational psychology training, UCL Institute of Education, Dr Brian Apter Division of educational and child psychology, British Psychological Society, Dr Sue Roffey Associate professor, University of Exeter and adjunct associate professor, University of Sydney
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
• Do you have a photo you’d like to share with other Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread in our print edition
