New figures released by the NHS today, show that one in eight (12.8%) of children and young people aged between five and 19 now have a diagnosed mental health difficulty.
Responding to the NHS’ report ‘Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2017’, Denise Hatton, Chief Executive for YMCA England & Wales, said:
“These figures are shocking and while progress has been made to normalise conversations about mental health and successive governments have made additional funding for NHS services available, today’s figures are a wake-up call that this clearly hasn’t gone far enough.
“To end this crisis that is ruining young lives it’s crucial that action and investment goes into preventing young people from experiencing poor mental health in the first place. From preventative youth and community services, to education in schools, mental health must be incorporated in every aspect of daily life to stop young people from reaching crisis point.
“Without preventative services and with the NHS struggling to cope, too many young people are still left alone to deal with their mental health difficulties by themselves leading to a vicious circle of solitude and suffering.”
YMCA England & Wales provides mental health advice and counselling for more than 17,000 young people every year. Find out more about YMCA’s work on mental health and our #IAMWHOLE campaign.