LGA responds to Government green paper on children's mental health

Responding to the Government’s announcement of a green paper for children’s mental health, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

“Measures to tackle the crisis in children and young people’s mental health are long overdue and we are pleased the Government is taking steps to address this. However, children and their families need help and support right now. Depression, anxiety, bereavement, and family crises do not wait.

“The reality is that all children need support and we hope this can be extended to all schools.

“This support needs to be available on the same day, at the point of request. Councils have previously called for an independent counselling service in all schools, as evidence shows that children and young people find it a crucial support, and such a service would reduce overall demand on specialist services, too.

“Today’s measures are a step in the right direction, but we need a root-and-branch overhaul of children’s mental health services if we’re to develop a system that says yes, rather than no, to children when they ask for help.”