LGA responds to £79 million mental health funding boost for children and young people

“This is a positive step amid the pandemic which has exacerbated existing child mental health problems and will help support an expected surge in related cases as schools reopen next week."

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Responding to the Government today announcing £79 million in funding to boost mental health support for children and young people, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:

“This is a positive step amid the pandemic which has exacerbated existing child mental health problems and will help support an expected surge in related cases as schools reopen next week.

“The Children’s Commissioner’s recent annual report predicts that damage to children’s health caused by the pandemic could last for years without a large-scale funding increase for children’s mental health services. The LGA echoes these concerns.

“Mental health needs to be at the heart of a holistic approach to overall health and wellbeing, including investment in community-based services, such as youth services.

“It is vital that effective and evidence-based mental health and wellbeing services and statutory mental health services for children are able to meet existing, new and unmet demand that has built up during the pandemic to support children and young people to thrive and overcome the challenges presented by COVID-19. The situation must be kept under review going forward to assess any further support needs that may arise.”