Children’s mental health services are to be boosted by a further £22m investment which will help improve access to talking therapies, Nick Clegg announced today.
The deputy prime minister said too many young people are suffering in silence with mental health problems.
The announcement follows the government’s £32m investment last year in the improving access to psychological therapies programme (IAPT) – a programme previously only available to adults.
The new funding will improve access to a wider range of psychological therapies, including family support and treatment for major health problems, including depression, self-harm, eating disorders and behavioural issues relating to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Training for social workers, NHS clinicians, counsellors and teachers will also be funded to improve the skills of those working with children with mental health problems.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said today’s investment will work specifically for children on therapies that are proven to work.
“With one in ten young people suffering from a mental health problem, we cannot let this issue drift or rely on adult services as a cure-all,” he said.
“Mental health must have the same priority as physical health. Giving children the treatment they need as soon as they need it will help ensure that millions of children suffering from a mental health problem will have a fairer opportunity to succeed in life,” he added.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: “We broke new ground last year investing in children’s mental health – this additional funding will help deliver services specific to young people. Our aim is to transform existing mental health services for children so our children get the best treatment possible.”
Sarah Brennan, chief executive of YoungMinds, said: “Children and young people tell us they want to play a central role in making decisions about their care.
Children and young people’s IAPT is a shining example of putting the voice of children and young people at the heart of design and delivery of services. As the programme expands we hope this continues.”
One in 10 children aged five to 16 has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem, according to research.
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