13 September 2007
In a new report released today, the Mental Health Foundation is calling for the government and commissioners to go beyond recent rhetoric and provide serious backing for voluntary sector providers of young people’s mental health care.
Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the Children’s Commissioner for England will give a keynote speech to a summit of mental health experts in Birmingham at the launch of Listen Up!, which shows that the voluntary sector is providing the kind of mental health services that young people want – flexible, informal and holistic – but often in face of chronic funding shortages.
According to the report, there also needs to be a fundamental change to the way in which Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are delivered so that they become more accessible and responsive across the board, and the statutory sector needs to adopt the person-centred approach commonly used by the voluntary sector.
Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“Whether we like it or not, young people will usually only approach statutory mental health services if they’re pushed. In contrast, the voluntary sector has demonstrated the ability to provide services that attract young people.
“While there will always be a need for strong statutory services, particularly if they can all learn from the voluntary sector’s person-centred approach, the voluntary sector deserves far more support, particularly financially, than it is currently getting.”
The Listen Up! report also says that voluntary services are available to young people during the transition from childhood to adult life, a time when many mental health problems develop – and a time, paradoxically, when the statutory sector often fails them. With adult mental health services (AMHS) often not starting until a person reaches 18, young people are stranded when children’s statutory provision ends at 16.
Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green emphasised the importance of mental health services that can connect with young people before their problems become embedded:
“The mental health of young people concerns us all – nurseries, schools, youth clubs, in fact anywhere that children and young people spend their time.
Research shows there are very many young people with early signs of mental health problems who need help, ranging from someone to talk to whom they can trust, to intensive treatment for those who are severely affected.
“The voluntary sector has a vital role to play in supporting young people with emotional difficulties and they need continuity of funding to help them fulfil that role.”
The Mental Health Foundation’s report also recommends that the commissioning process itself be simplified and made more accessible to allow small, innovative organisations to concentrate on providing services rather than engaging in time consuming and costly bidding processes.
More information about Listen Up!
Ends
Key facts:
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Among teenagers, rates of anxiety and depression increased by 70% in the past 25 years and the incidence of reported self-harm has also risen, with one in 15 young people now thought to be affected.
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Despite these significant increases, the level of children and young people’s contact with statutory services remains low – one study found that only one in four children with a diagnosed mental health problem is in touch with Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
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Left unresolved, mental health problems significantly affect children and young people’s social and educational development. This can have profound and lasting negative impact into adult life in terms of employment, relationships, and likelihood of disability.
Notes to editors
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For more information, or to arrange interviews with cases studies from the report, Mental Health Foundation spokespeople or the Children’s Commissioner for England, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, please call Simon Loveland on 020 803 1130 or e-mail Simon
The Mental Health Foundation uses research and practical projects to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems. We work to influence policy, including government at the highest levels. And we use our knowledge to raise awareness and to help tackle the stigma attached to mental illness. We reach millions of people every year through our media work, information booklets and online services.
11 MILLION, formerly the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, supports the 11 million children and young people in England to have their voices heard. The Children’s Commissioner for England was established under The Children Act 2004 to be the independent voice of children and young people and to champion their interests and bring their concerns and views to the national arena.
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