Further proof of the crisis in children and young people's mental health

Craig Thorley, IPPR Research Fellow for Public Services, responding to new figures showing Childline receiving over 19,000 calls from children with suicidal thoughts last year, said:

"This report adds further proof of a crisis in children and young people's mental health. Although government has pledged to invest £1.4 billion by 2020, there is evidence that this is being siphoned off into other areas of NHS spending, rather than going directly to schools and frontline services.

"Increasing mental health expertise in schools will help to identify problems as early as possible and ensure young people receive the support they need."

Ends

Editor's Notes:

1. See: 'Childline contacted every 30 minutes about suicidal thoughts', NSPCC, 8 August 2016, [https://www.nspcc.org.uk/fighting-for-childhood/news-opinion/childline-contacted-50-times-day-suicidal-thoughts/]
2. IPPR highlighted this issue in May in the report 'Education, education, mental health'. See: http://www.ippr.org/publications/education-education-mental-health
3. IPPR aims to influence policy in the present and reinvent progressive politics in the future, and is dedicated to the better country that Britain can be through progressive policy and politics. With nearly 60 staff across four offices throughout the UK, IPPR is Britain’s only national think tank with a truly national presence.
   
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