MP calls for improved mental health services

Dr Cameron questions Matt Hancock

East Ki l bri de, St rat haven a n d L e s ma h a g o w MP D r Lisa Cameron is supporting c a mp a i g n e r s c a l l i n g f o r i mprove d ment a l h e a l t h ser vices for children amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Cameron questioned Healt h S e c re t a r y Matt Hancock i n We s t m i n s t e r o v e r t h e U K g o v e r n me n t ’s C OV I D r e c o v e r y mental health strategy.

She is backing the Child Mental Health Charter Campaign which calls upon the Government to make a detailed statement about exactly how they propose to provide for children’s mental health needs at school, in the community and in the health services and how such provision will be funded.

Dr Cameron said in her question to Mr Hancock: “The Secretary of State will be aware of a recent survey that found that one third of children feel more anxious, sad and stressed now than before lockdown.

“The charity Action for Children has there fore asked the government to prioritise children’s mental health in COVID-19 recovery planning and provide adequate funding to meet the demands.

“So what exactly has he done about that and when can we expect him to announce the COVID recover y mental health strategy?”

Mr Hancock replied that this was an “incredibly important subject” and that more funding was going into paediatric mental health to tackle the “inevitable consequences of the COVID pandemic”.

And Dr Cameron this week s ubmitted an Earl y Day Motion (EDM) in follow up to her question.

It states: “That this House notes a survey by the mental health charity

Re-Think found that one third of children feel more anxious, sad and stressed now than before lockdown; further notes that the charity Action for Children has asked the Government to prioritise children’s mental health in COVID-19 recovery planning with sufficient funding; notes that at their press conference of September 21, 2020, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Va l l a n c e p r e d i c t e d t hat menta l health would be further jeopardised if the virus goes out of control; and c a l l s u p o n t h e G o v e r n me n t t o publish a distinctive Mental Health Strategy f or Children and Young People, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic with a commitment that the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people will be placed at the heart of the overall Recovery Plan.”

Campaign Manager for the Child Mental Health Charter Campaign,

Helen Clark, previously wrote to the Scottish Government about what action it was taking to support the mental health needs of children.

She had prai s e d t he re s ponse given by them and the initiatives in place and is now calling for the UK Government to follow suit.

“I am impressed that the resources have been designed in partnership with children and young people and differentiate between need, age group and circumstance,” she said.

“I am grateful to Dr Lisa Cameron MP for suggesting that I make contact with the Scottish Minister for Mental Health, Clare Haughey.

“How di s a ppoi nt i ng i t i s t hat in comparison with this engaged a n d e n g a g i n g s t r a t e g y , t h e UK Government has failed to step up.

“Chil d Mental Health Char t er s uppor t er s both at Westminster and elsewhere have continued to ask Boris Johnson’s Government to provide a clear plan for children’s mental health needs.”

Helen added: “It i s s i mply not credible to expect schools to cope with the intensified and radically exacerbated mental health needs of children with no new resources.

“The Child Mental Health Charter Ca mpa i g n n o w c a l l s u p o n t h e Government t o make a detai l ed statement about exactly how they propose to provide for children’s mental health needs at school, in the community and in the health services and how such provision will be funded.

“At the same time, we renew our call t o Boris Johnson t o keep his Queen’s Speech promise to bring in a new Mental Health Bill during the course of this parliament.

“I would also urge as many people as possible, across al l par t i es t o support Dr Cameron’s EDM (#923) and write to their MP asking them to sign it.”