Has Children’s Mental Health Become Political Fodder in the United Kingdom

Social Worker Helper | Steven Walker | 2015/02/02

Politicians in the United Kingdom have just announced plans to improve mental health services for children and young people. Leader Ed Milband accused the government of “stripping back preventive services”, and he stated his party is “committed to improving access to services and support”. If Economic austerity is set to continue after the General Election in May, then the current announcements by major politicians will be seen to be just more empty rhetoric with young people set to pay a heavy price.

Government policy directives encourage multi-disciplinary and more interprofessional working methods as part of the strategic response yet they do not provide any more finance to increase service provision. Demand has outstripped supply meaning that in nearly every part of the country waiting times for assessment are in excess of 8 weeks while it can take up to 6 months for treatment to begin. This is a long time to leave a child and family without any interventions in place. Article