Services shake-up wins wide support

Campaigners have welcomed pledges to improve mental health
services for children and ethnic minorities in the delivery plan
for the public health white paper.

The document says child and adolescent mental health services will
become a more comprehensive service. And specific programmes will
be targeted at improving services for ethnic minorities and victims
of domestic violence. Referral arrangements to mental health
services will also be improved.

Charity YoungMinds welcomed the aim to build a comprehensive
service by 2006. Director Barbara Herts said: “There are about 1.1
million children with a mental disorder so we believe it will take
increased investment over some years to achieve this aim.”

• Delivering Choosing Health from
  www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/10/57/13/04105713.pdf