The Centre for Mental Health says that the government must
‘invest in childhood' or risk losing the next generation of young
people to mental ill health.
A recent report by NHS
Providers showed that the life chances of a ‘forgotten
generation' are being harmed due to delays accessing care, with
the NHS struggling to meet rapidly rising demand and increasingly
complex and acute care needs among children and young people.
Isabel Lawicka, director of policy and strategy, NHS Providers,
said:
“The Centre for Mental Health is spot on about the need to
provide timely, fair and effective care as well as intervening
earlier. Far too many young lives are being blighted by delays to
getting vital care.
“Despite seeing record numbers of people, NHS mental health
services are experiencing huge increases in demand - considerably
higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic - particularly for
services like children and young people's ADHD and autism
assessment services.
“Nobody in the NHS wants mental health patients to wait a moment
longer than they have to and trust leaders and staff are doing
everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible, in
the face of extreme pressure and significant challenges.
“It's disappointing that the share of NHS spending on mental
health fell last year and is set to fall again this year at
a time of soaring demand for services. The government's promised
10-year plan is a golden chance to give mental health the
priority it deserves long-term and to help mental health
services to keep improving.”
