Our response to the Government’s Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision
02 March 2018
On 2nd March 2018, the Department for Education and the Department of Health & Social Care closed consultation on Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision: Green Paper.
Our response
London Youth generally supports the approach adopted by the Department of Health & Social Care and the Department for Education and welcome the much-needed investment in children and young people’s mental health.
The core proposals focus on establishing the education system as the principal pathway for young people to access mental health support. While we agree that schools and colleges play an important role in mental health support and signposting, there needs to be a greater acknowledgement of the sometimes complicated relationships between young people and their schools and colleges. Our concern is that by making schools and colleges the central pathway for young people to access mental health services there is a risk of not providing adequate support to all young people, particularly those who do not have positive relationships with their schools, older young people, and those who are no longer in school.
We believe that the voluntary and community sector, particularly community youth organisations, is a vital partner in ensuring all young people can access mental health services. The core proposals do not place an adequate emphasis on the role of the community and youth sector to deliver mental health support, services, and signposting to young people.
This response is on behalf of London Youth and supported by Young Barnet Foundation, Young Brent Foundation, Young Camden Foundation, Young Ealing Foundation, Young Hammersmith and Fulham Foundation, Young Harrow Foundation, and Young Westminster Foundation.
