The British Psychological Society (BPS) said the thrust of the government's green paper, published in December, is "reactive", taking the standpoint that the problem is "within the child" rather than looking at external societal factors that can impact on mental health.
The green paper outlines plans to incentivise every school and college in England to appoint a designated senior lead for mental health to co-ordinate existing school-based support, as well as helping children to access specialist therapies and other NHS treatments.
But the BPS said the plans fail to address the major determinants of poor mental health - poverty, social inequality, poor housing and degraded communities.
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