Prevention focus for mental health

In its submission to the Department for Children, Schools and Families' CAMHS Review, NCH also said children's centres and Sure Starts should help identify mental health problems at an early age.

Jason Pollard, the policy officer leading on CAMHS at NCH, said: "There needs to be more emphasis on early intervention and prevention aspects of mental health within CAMHS."

The British Association of Social Workers proposed a similar approach in its submission to the CAMHS Review's call for evidence, which ended last week.

"Early intervention will only be really effective if consultation and participation are built into practice and recognised as such by the designers and commissioners of early intervention services," it said in its response.

It added that social workers are able to help identify parents who may not be able to recognise mental health problems within their family.

The review's final report is expected in October this year.