Over the past few years, children and young people have been increasingly struggling with poor mental health because of the lasting impact of Covid, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and a growing consumption of social media.
Today, 1.4 million children and young people are estimated to be dealing with a mental health issue that potentially requires assessment and treatment by healthcare professionals, but less than half – only 48% – have received any level of support. Children and young people deserve so much better care and support than this.
Our Mental Health Programme Manager, Lydia Davies, explains what needs to be done to make sure that children and young people can get the mental health support they need.
Invest in early mental health support
Children account for 20% of the population, but only 10% of total mental health spending. On average, the NHS spends £225 for every adult but just £92 for every child.1
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) provide effective prevention and early intervention support to children and young people in schools and colleges by providing therapeutic help to pupils with mild to moderate mental health conditions, and support for teachers. But right now, services are only available in around one in three schools and colleges in England, and the current plans to expand them to 50% by the end of 2024 will still leave millions without support.2
If the government commits to funding and delivering mental health and wellbeing support across all schools and colleges in England, more children and young people will have access to earlier support before they reach crisis point.
Offer accessible, evidence-based digital health solutions
Today, most children get their first phone between 9 and 11 years old and 94% of children and young people are on social media.3 While social media can offer a fantastic space for fun and connection, it can also be a place that promotes diet culture, unrealistic beauty standards and unhealthy relationships with our bodies. This leads to far too many children and young people feeling unhappy with their appearance, with three out of four children as young as 12 disliking their bodies.4 To reach children and young people who might be struggling with these feelings, we need to meet them where they’re at.
That’s why we co-produced Be Body Positive as a partnership between Barnardo’s, East London NHS Foundation Trust, North East London NHS Foundation Trust and East London Business Alliance. We know children and young people need earlier support to help them to build a positive relationship with their body and food. Be Body Positive does that by offering evidence-based clinically safe learning, resources and tools for young people to identify and reflect on their eating behaviours and work toward a better relationship with food and their bodies.
Empower children and young people with social prescribing
Social prescribing is a great way of connecting people to social activities, groups, and services that help improve their health and wellbeing. These can include group hobby activities like crafting and cinema clubs, or outdoor activities like gardening and swimming; with the aim of reducing anxiety and loneliness while improving wellbeing and activity levels.
In Cumbria, our LINK social prescribing service works alongside GP practices to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Our LINK workers support children and young people to explore issues that are important to them, like building confidence and self-esteem, breaking through social isolation, managing difficult relationships and school-based worries, and coping with stress and anxiety.
Reduce pressures on existing systems and support children and young people in crisis
The number of emergency department attendances by young people aged 18 or under with a recorded diagnosis of a psychiatric condition has more than tripled between 2010 and 2018-19.5
Our mental health support workers in the Black Country and St Helens work with children and young people who either attend emergency departments or are in contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Crisis Intervention Teams. They aim to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, while reducing crises and re-presentation back to the emergency department by offering holistic and personalised plans to support their mental health and wellbeing. This support results in better outcomes for not only children and young people, but also for parents, carers, and healthcare professionals too.
Since working with my [Barnardo’s Black Country Mental Health & Wellbeing] keyworker there has been no self-harm. My child has learned how to deal with those feelings and how to understand them, our keyworker has built a great relationship with my child which has really helped her to feel comfortable and take on board the advice given, her attitude and mental health have greatly improved thanks to attending her sessions. Thank you!
Parent
Make sure no child or young person falls through the gaps
As well as investing in early mental health support, health and social care organisations need to come together to form strong partnerships.
It’s our collective responsibility to help children and young people to grow and thrive by building the strong foundations needed for positive mental health and wellbeing, and to support children and young people before they become too unwell.
By working together, we can make sure no child or young person falls through gaps in services they should be able to rely on for support.
Sources
- Barnardo’s General Election Manifesto 2024 | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)
- Back to School: At what age does a smartphone feature on the ‘back to school’ checklist? - University of Birmingham
- Body-image-among-young-people-Negative-perceptions-and-damaging-content-on-social-media...-new-survey-reveals-Dec-22.pdf (stem4.org.uk)
- Mental Health Statistics UK | Young People | YoungMinds
Get help for your mental health
Everyone has mental health and sometimes you can struggle with how you feel. You’re not alone and help is available. We offer lots of services to help you look after your mental health. This can include help in school, play therapy, or counselling.
How Project Me is supporting students through a growing youth mental health crisis
We caught up with the Children’s Services Manager for Project Me, Polly Atkins, who spoke to us about the work her team is doing to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Swindon.
Looking after a young person's mental wellbeing
We shouldn’t just look after our mental wellbeing when we’re struggling. It should be something we do all the time. That’s why it’s an important habit to teach children and young people.