Services must step up mental health support

In a review of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, early findings indicate that children are not using mental health services for many reasons. These include lack of availability, distrust of statutory services, fear of being stigmatised, fear of confidentiality being broken and confusion over where to find help. Despite a range of potential avenues of support, it is clear that more needs to be done to create a clear and recognisable route to access help quickly and easily.

In response to some of these problems, the government has set up a three-year pathfinder project, Targeted Mental Health in Schools, aimed at improving access and early intervention for children at risk of or experiencing mental health problems. Southwark Council has been named as one of the 25 pathfinder authorities that are expecting to develop far-reaching approaches to promote mental health in schools. These include one-to-one therapeutic treatments, drop-ins, parenting advice and training for staff in schools, as well as strengthening its referral system. The project aims to make schools a more effective channel for encouraging positive mental health and promotes the need for holistic treatment and improved accessibility.