‘We are hugely disappointed that the Government has missed a crucial opportunity in today’s Budget to commit to improving the mental health of babies, children and young people. We know that mental health need is rising significantly among children and young people, and many services are struggling to meet this increased demand. The pandemic has also placed additional pressures on young people further threatening their mental health. Over the past few months, we have been proud to stand with Black Thrive Global, Centre for Mental Health, The Children’s Society, Mind, Youth Access, and YoungMinds as part of the Fund the Hubs campaign, which has been calling for a national network of early support hubs to help young people with emerging mental health needs up to the age of 25 to ensure young people can access the mental health support they need, at the right time.
By not investing in these hubs in the Budget, the Government risks leaving approximately half a million young people who would benefit from these services without any support. Young people too have been calling for services of this kind, but their pleas have been ignored at a time when they need it the most. We know too well the cost of not intervening early, which sadly leads to too many young people reaching crisis point with their mental health. That’s why we will continue to work hard to push the Government to prioritise early support for children and young people’s mental health.’
Kadra Abdinasir, Strategic Lead, The Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition
