Historic underfunding and a fragmented system are preventing councils from stopping more children from reaching crisis point, a new report has found.
The report, published by the Local Government Association (LGA) explores the systemic issues that continue to frustrate local efforts to improve children and young people’s mental wellbeing.
It sets out how councils and their local partners can work together to act early before issues escalate and provide more joined-up care for those with complex needs.
Cllr Judith Blake, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: ‘This report provides helpful guidance and good practice to councils about how they can work with local partners in their vital role in helping children have mentally healthy childhoods.
‘It provides further evidence that children are being driven into NHS services that treat mental illness because the system and funding prioritise treatment rather than the early support and preventative services that help children have mentally healthy childhoods.’
