THE impact of Covid-19 has saw referrals for urgent mental health support at Bradford District Care Trust reach 100 in a month, figures show.

The pandemic has contributed to more people reaching crisis point nationally because they are not receiving help they need in time, according to mental health charity Mind.

NHS Digital data shows in May, crisis teams at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust received around 100 urgent new referrals. Ten children were among those needing urgent help, the figures show.

At the end of the same month, there were roughly 25 people already subject to crisis care plans managed by the trust.

A spokesperson for Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “Like many other trusts across the country we have seen an increase in people being referred for urgent mental health care over the past months. This is resulting from the impacts of the pandemic, which include a loss of support systems, such as seeing friends and family, and people not coming forward to access earlier interventions throughout lockdown.

“We work closely with our third sector partners across the district and the local authority to make sure anyone in need of crisis support gets the help that’s right for them.”

Leila Reyburn, from Mind, said the pandemic had affected the scale and severity of mental health problems across the nation, with more people experiencing issues for the first time and those with pre-existing problems requiring more urgent and acute treatment.

Calling for the Government to provide sustainable funding for NHS mental health services and community-based initiatives, she added: “Even before the pandemic, many people weren’t getting the right support.

“The increase in urgent and emergency crisis referrals indicates people are not getting the support they need in time, and are reaching crisis point as a result – including self-harming, experiencing psychosis and suicidal thoughts.

“Many services in the community have been forced to restrict what they can provide, or even close altogether. When people do not get the right mental health support early on, they are far more likely to end up in crisis.”

Across England, more than 28,000 emergency or urgent referrals were made in May this year, up from 25,700 in 2020 and 26,500 two years earlier. Nationally, there has also been a stark rise in emergency referrals for children since the pandemic hit, from 644 in 2019 to 943 this year.

A Government spokesperson said: “Covid-19 has affected everyone in the UK and we recognise it has had a disproportionate impact on certain groups of people.

“Throughout the pandemic, community and crisis services have continued to provide support, including by using digital and face to face appointments.

“As we look beyond the pandemic, we remain committed to expanding and transforming mental health services in England, backed by £2.3 billion a year by 2023-24.

The Bradford Trust spokesperson added: “If you need additional support with your mental health, or are worried about a friend or loved one, you can speak to a health care professional. If you live in Bradford and you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support you can call First Response on 0800 952 1181.”