Urgent changes needed to children's mental health support!
The Issue
Right now across the UK thousands of children and young people are not able to access the mental health support they desperately need.
Tragically, even young people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts are often not provided with support from the NHS service CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service) as they are not deemed "ill" enough. This is because the service is overstretched and underfunded.
Therefore thousands of children, suffering with mental health issues, and their families are left with no-one to turn to but their GP, who only in severe cases may prescribe the child with medication but can do little else to help if CAMHS refuses their referral. Or, in some cases, parents may decide to have to pay for costly private therapy. However, if you are an adult suffering with mild to moderate mental health conditions your GP will refer you to a talking therapies service, which provides CBT and counselling! This is extremely unjust!
I am concerned that after the coronavirus pandemic the children's mental health crisis will only increase. The UK government has announced that they will ensure every secondary school will have a school counsellor. However I feel this simply isn't good enough!
I feel this way because the government are not recognising the impact the pandemic will have on primary aged children. Childline has reported 'figures have particularly soared in children under the age of 11 experiencing suicidal feelings'*. Also, another reason I feel the government proposals are not good enough is because many mental health conditions (such as anxiety, OCD and eating disorders) respond better to treatments such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).
Therefore I am calling on the government and NHS to together create a nationwide service which provides mental health support for children with mild to moderate mental health issues. I would like the service to include CBT therapists and councillors either providing therapy sessions to young people over the phone or face to face sessions. Also, I would the service to include the provision of either play therapy/drama therapy/art therapy, as these types of therapies would be better for young children who may struggle to communicate how they feel through just speaking face to face.
Please sign the petition to help ensure every child gets the mental health support they need and to help save lives!
Petition Closed
The Issue
Right now across the UK thousands of children and young people are not able to access the mental health support they desperately need.
Tragically, even young people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts are often not provided with support from the NHS service CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service) as they are not deemed "ill" enough. This is because the service is overstretched and underfunded.
Therefore thousands of children, suffering with mental health issues, and their families are left with no-one to turn to but their GP, who only in severe cases may prescribe the child with medication but can do little else to help if CAMHS refuses their referral. Or, in some cases, parents may decide to have to pay for costly private therapy. However, if you are an adult suffering with mild to moderate mental health conditions your GP will refer you to a talking therapies service, which provides CBT and counselling! This is extremely unjust!
I am concerned that after the coronavirus pandemic the children's mental health crisis will only increase. The UK government has announced that they will ensure every secondary school will have a school counsellor. However I feel this simply isn't good enough!
I feel this way because the government are not recognising the impact the pandemic will have on primary aged children. Childline has reported 'figures have particularly soared in children under the age of 11 experiencing suicidal feelings'*. Also, another reason I feel the government proposals are not good enough is because many mental health conditions (such as anxiety, OCD and eating disorders) respond better to treatments such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).
Therefore I am calling on the government and NHS to together create a nationwide service which provides mental health support for children with mild to moderate mental health issues. I would like the service to include CBT therapists and councillors either providing therapy sessions to young people over the phone or face to face sessions. Also, I would the service to include the provision of either play therapy/drama therapy/art therapy, as these types of therapies would be better for young children who may struggle to communicate how they feel through just speaking face to face.
Please sign the petition to help ensure every child gets the mental health support they need and to help save lives!
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Petition created on 22 July 2020