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Children’s Mental Health Week
06 February 2020
Lead MP
Preet Kaur Gill
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
NHSEmploymentMental HealthLocal Government
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Preet Kaur Gill raised concerns about children’s mental health week in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The mental health of thousands of children and young people has reached a critical stage, with over three-quarters of all mental health problems emerging by the age of 20. The Government's Green Paper in 2017 did not meet expectations for improvement across England. There is an urgent need to address shortages in mental health professionals, funding cuts affecting local authority services, and the rising incidence of mental health issues among children under various circumstances such as poverty, criminal justice involvement, or social media addiction. The current system does not offer sufficient early intervention or preventive measures, leading to a crisis situation where emergency services are increasingly required.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Asked if the explosion in social media and its addiction among young people contributes to the terrible increases described by the hon. Member.
Jim Shannon
Social Democratic & Labour Party
Strangford
Acknowledged the superb debate on a critical issue, highlighting that schools, churches, and voluntary sector youth organisations also play significant roles in supporting children's mental health.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledged the debate on Children’s Mental Health Week, highlighting that one in eight five to 19-year-olds has a mental disorder and young women are more at risk of self-harm. The Government's commitment is evident with £2.3 billion allocated for mental health care, more than half of which will be targeted towards children and young people. Funding increases have led to improvements such as the launch of trailblazer schemes in 50% of schools by 2024, aiming to support 345,000 additional children and young people annually by 2023-24. The Minister also addressed concerns about workforce shortages and online harms, emphasising ongoing efforts to protect young people's mental health through legislative measures.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.