Young people seeking mental health support are not getting the help they need, according to a new survey.
In a poll of parents in England and Wales, 45% said their child had asked for mental health support, but over a third (36%) of these requests went unmet.
The research by the Children’s Society found that 85% of parents believe earlier intervention should be offered to children, with 52% citing current thresholds and waiting times as direct barriers preventing their children from getting the support they need.
The charity’s chief executive, Mark Russell, said: ‘Children can’t wait for weeks or months for treatment, they need immediate help before their issues hit crisis point.?
‘We must act now to ensure every child has access to the mental health care they need.’
The charity called for more funding for early support services so that young people can build resilience, work through their feelings, and learn to cope with stress.
The chair of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, Arooj Shah, said: ‘The growing children’s mental health crisis needs to be tackled with a cross-government plan to support children and young people.’
Cllr Shah said there should be a named mental health professional supporting each school, and mental health training for all staff who work with young people.
Councils should be supported to provide parenting support programmes and to set up local peer support networks for parents and carers with children with mental health needs, he added.
