The 10 Year Health Plan for England sets out how mental health services for children and young people will improve over the coming years.

What’s changing

• more support in schools and colleges – mental health support teams will be available in all schools and colleges by 2029
• easier access to NHS mental health services for young people who need more specialist support – offering wellbeing support within Young Futures Hubs to connect young people to NHS mental health services when they need it
• shorter waiting times – 8,500 mental health staff are being recruited to reduce long waits for both children and adults
• better care for children in residential settings – working with local authorities to ensure children with complex mental health needs i get the treatment and support they need, reducing the need for hospital admissions and repeated emergency department visits.

What local NHS services will deliver by 2028/29

• continue expanding mental health support teams in schools and colleges, working towards full national coverage by 2029
• reduce the longest waits for children and young people’s community mental health services
• address local differences in how easily young people can access support.

Building on progress

These changes build on improvements already made to children and young people’s mental health services, including:

• mental health support teams offering early help in schools
• all-age mental health crisis lines, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic
• specialist community eating disorder services
• better support for young people with mental health needs in hospital.

Further support

If you or your child needs mental health support, you can find more information on the Every Mind Matters website.