News

NHS England comments on UCL and National Children’s Bureau report on young people’s depression

Claire Murdoch, National Mental Health Director at NHS England, said: “NHS services for children and young people are expanding at their fastest rate in a decade. This year the NHS will treat an additional 30,000 children and young people, supported by an additional £280 million of funding. The report demonstrates how critical it is that all services – schools, youth services as well as the NHS –  play their part in spotting problems early, and offering solutions.”

Background

Over the course of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health – NHS England’s plan for improving mental health services – treatment and care for children and young people will have been boosted by £1.4 billion.

Improving mental health care for young people includes delivering 70 new and enhanced eating disorder teams, with shorter waits for specialist care and new services in community settings so that people can get help close to their families and home. These services will see at least 3,350 children and young people a year getting treatment for eating disorders.

The Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme includes training for staff  in the NHS, local authorities’ children’s services the voluntary and independent sector  in evidence based therapies to support children and young people with self-harm, behavioural problems, eating disorders, who have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression to support parents of 0-5s  and staff working in inpatient units or community eating disorder teams. This training is available to services across the country.