This plea comes from a place deep within a parent's heart; a desperate plea for help from a worried mother for her son, Noah. Noah, aged 8, is currently grappling with some severe emotional challenges. He is a bright, kind-hearted, intelligent boy, who cherishes his family, and particularly, his little sister. Despite these admirable qualities, Noah struggles with PDA, Anxiety, Sensory processing disorder, and food avoidance. His anxiety isn't just the occasional fretting that comes naturally with children and adults diagnosed with ASD; it's something more pervasive, something that hinders him daily.

Our family has knocked on countless doors, sought out the assistance of Cahms, school  and paediatricians and Drs. Yet, despite our pleas, we've been turned away time and time again, simply because Noah is under 12. This stance reflects a blatant disregard for the mental health needs of children under 12. Recognizing this gaping lacuna in our current mental health setup is the first step towards rectifying it.

According to the Child Mind Institute, around 4.4 million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with anxiety. However, fewer than 20% of these children are classified under the age of 12 and receive treatment. These numbers clearly demonstrate that our current mental health systems are ill-equipped to handle the needs of younger children, subsequently leaving them without the necessary support.

In light of these troubling statistics, we urgently need policy changes to address this issue. We are calling on our representatives at all levels of government to increase mental health support for children under 12. These young minds are our future and deserve to have a comprehensive support system in place that caters to their specific needs.

It's time that we acknowledge the critical need for improved mental health support, especially for those like Noah who are falling through the cracks. Please join us in promoting the mental wellbeing of young children. Sign the petition. Help us make a change.

70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at an early enough age

Its about time we catch our young children before they fall and not letting them get worse, our NHS should not have condition for support.

So I plead with you to sign this petition and let's try and make a small difference, all children deserve help.