Crisis in mental health care for young people | Letters

Readers respond to a report that children in the UK with mental health problems are waiting up to 18 months to be treated

The report highlighting the unacceptable delays to young people accessing mental health services is to be welcomed (18-month wait for child mental health care, 21 October). But we must also look at preventive measures, or how our young people can develop their mental health.

The loss of youth services and clubs in recent years has left young people, particularly those from lower-income families, with nowhere to go. The result is that they are often confined to their own homes so have fewer people to socialise with, and a reduction in the number of adults they can talk to and get advice and support from. This is at a time when these families are under increasing stress from the government’s austerity measures, which will be felt by young people. The loss of these services also limits the types of activities young people can get involved in, meaning they are unable to build up their confidence in other areas of their life or broaden their knowledge of opportunities open to them.

Continue reading... October 24, 2017 at 11:15PM