PAC REPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Responding to a Public Accounts Committee report on mental health services for children and young people, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:

“This report rightly recognises the importance of early intervention and prevention services for children provided by councils, and the significant financial strain these are under.

“Councils are facing a country-wide children’s care cash crisis and are being forced to cut many of the early intervention services which help children avoid mental health issues in later life.

“Children’s services face a funding gap of £3.1 billion by 2025 while public health services, which have seen cuts of £600 million, also help children get the best start in life. It is vital the Government addresses this in the forthcoming Spending Review.

“The report also highlights the need for the NHS to work with councils. The Government has promised £1.7 billion for children’s mental health, and it should make certain all of this is received by children’s mental health services, and not diverted elsewhere. Where it has been spent on other services, government should make up the shortfall.”