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We have brought together a range of stakeholders, people with lived experience, researchers, and experts in mental health, to independently develop a series of think pieces exploring children's mental health and provide an opportunity to think differently about what children and young people need to live well.
The rise of mental health needs among children and young people has been well documented over the past decade with pressures seemingly increasing year on year. While much data and narrative reflect the number of children being referred to health services for mental health support, councils are also seeing more and more young people requiring urgent help.
The below series of think pieces have been developed independently providing an opportunity for the LGA itself to reflect on what it wants to see in terms of mental health reform, and what councils can do to help create a society that reduces the need for young people and families to turn to acute health services for mental health support.
In this section:
- Children's Commissioner: Early support for children and young people’s mental health
- The Association of Directors of Public Health: How to help our young people thrive
- NSPCC Young People’s Collective: What can we do to develop a mental health system that works for children?
- Alison Jeffrey: Improving children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Doctor Caroline Culen: Austria -our children in crisis
- John Qvortrup: Norway: When money doesn’t solve it
- Dr. Rienk Janssens: Get away from an individual approach in a collective rat race
- School and Public Health Nurses Association : What can we do to develop a mental health system that works for children?
- Hope Virgo: Eating disorders, hidden in plain sight
- Association of Directors of Children's Services: Exploring children and young people's mental health
- NSPCC’s Young People’s Board for Change: Developing a mental health system that works for children
- Chair of the LGA's Children and Young people Board: Reflection on mental health think pieces
- Dr. Jaspar Khawaja: Let’s stop being reactive and start meeting the psychological needs of children and young people
- Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing: Think piece on children's mental health
- The Health Foundation: The building blocks of young people’s mental health
- National Children’s Bureau: Local and national responses to the challenges in children and young people’s mental health
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation: We can’t improve the nation’s mental health without tackling poverty
- Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition: What can we do to develop a mental health system that works for children, young people and families?
- Dr. Geoffrey D James: Reimagining behaviour support - strengths based practice for emotional and mental wellbeing
- Prathiba Chitsabesan: What can we do to develop a mental health system that works for children?
- Paula Lavis, NHS Confederation: How do we support children with the most acute needs?
- Andrew Speight and Dr Sue Roffey: A holistic approach to mental health and education