When is the mental health of a child or young person a reason for a notification to the Child Abuse Report Line?
When your concern about their mental health is directly related to your belief that the child or young person is being abused or neglected. This belief can be formed on two grounds. The first ground is where you believe the behaviours are a response to the child or young person’s experience of physical, sexual or emotional abuse. This may relate to a family or non-family member. The second ground is where you are aware that the child or young person’s parents have failed or refused to follow up with treatment/medical attention after the concerns have been brought clearly and directly to their attention. Children and young people can experience a wide range of mental health problems that have nothing to do with negligent or abusive parents. The best responses to these children and young people involve working closely with parents and mental health professionals. If staff have urgent concerns about a child or young person’s safety related to their mental health they should contact their
