The mental health of children and young people (CYP) has markedly declined in recent years, a trend significantly accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Accessing support for mental health issues is highly variable with long waiting lists for specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and inconsistent provision of mental health support in schools and educational institutions, meaning that supply does not meet demand. There is a gap in support for CYP who need a greater level of support than is currently available in education settings, but do not require specialist mental health
treatment (King’s Fund, 2024). Mental health issues may manifest as primary complaints in primary care settings or may be discovered incidentally during the evaluation of related physical or social problems. Consequently, it is imperative for general practice nurses (GPNs) to be able to recognise and accurately assess mental health issues that present to them. They should also be equipped to offer appropriate signposting, advice and guidance, as well as to facilitate necessary escalation or referral to specialist services when required. This article, the first in our series on CYP and mental health, focuses on history-taking and initial assessment.