Urgent investment needed for children and young people's mental health services under severe strain
25 August 2021
- The NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network has published a new report Reaching the tipping point: children and young people's mental health.
- As many as 1.5 million children and young people may need new or additional mental health support as a result of the pandemic.
- Further funding is required to address the increase in mental health service demand and severe staffing shortages.
Responding to NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network report, Reaching the tipping point: children and young people's mental health, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers Saffron Cordery, said:
"It is worrying to see mental health services for children and young people under such severe strain.
"These findings confirm the results of our own survey in May in which all mental health trust leaders said demand for children and young people's services was outstripping supply.
"We urge the government to provide the necessary investment for mental health services. This is vital not only to support current demand but to ensure long term sustainability for a sector that was overstretched, even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
"While the extra funding pledged for mental health services is welcome, we need more investment if we are going to make significant impact in reducing waiting times and providing safe and timely services for patients in the long run.
"That's why the upcoming comprehensive spending review is so important for mental health services."