LGA responds to Committees' report on children's mental health green paper

Responding to a joint report by the Education Committee and Health and Social Care Committee on the Government’s proposed children and young people’s mental health green paper, Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:

“We are pleased the committees share our concerns that the Government’s proposed schemes will not be rolled out until 2022/23. This risks leaving many young people without vital support. Children and their families need help and support right now - depression, anxiety, bereavement, and family crises do not wait.

“If we are to tackle the crisis in children’s mental health, we need a root-and-branch overhaul of existing services. We need to develop a system that says yes, rather than no, to children when they ask for help.

“As a starting point, we want to see councils and schools given the funding to offer independent mental health counselling so pupils have access to support as and when they need it.”