Tories failing children's mental health

Councillor David Minchella, Liberal Democrat Councillor of Bishopsgarth and Elm Tree on Stockton Council said, in in response to the Education Policy Institute's Annual Report on access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS),

"The state of children's mental health services in England is deeply worrying. It is unacceptable that children in Stockton Borough who have experienced abuse or have diagnosable mental health conditions could be turned away from treatment. As the report says "The large majority of lifelong mental illnesses develop in childhood or adolescence, and the individual and societal costs of untreated adult mental ill health are vast, estimated at £105.2bn each year."

"This report should be a wake-up call for the Conservative government. It shows they are failing children, and they will continue to fail if they do not prioritise child and adolescent mental health services.

"Liberal Democrats would ensure that no child or young person who needs help is turned away from mental health services. We are calling on the Tory government to increase the funding for child and adolescent mental health services and urgently tackle the shortages in mental health staff."