A decision to end specific ring-fenced funding increases for children and young people’s mental health services undermines the Government’s commitment to reduce waiting times in this group, a think tank has warned.
Last year the Mental Health Investment Standard included a requirement to increase spending on services for children and young people over and above the overall mental health service rate, due to historical underinvestment.
But this year this requirement within the Standard has been dropped putting investment in children and young people’s mental health potentially at risk, The King’s Fund said.
The Prime Minister had said that young people should no longer face ‘long waits anymore for mental health support growing up’ but this ambition is being put at risk, the think tank added.
At least 175,846 children have been waiting more than two years to see a specialist, The King’s Fund said – almost 50,000 more than the 126,677 waiting that long in April 2024.
Long waits at such a critical period in life can deeply impact children’s development, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life with lasting effects that can continue into adulthood, they added.
Just over half (51%) of children are still waiting for care a year after being referred to community mental health services, and 30% are still waiting after more than two years.
The Government has committed to reducing the longest waits for children and young people by recruiting 8,500 more mental health staff, expanding access through mental health support teams in schools and providing support through Young Futures Hubs.
But success will depend on services continuing to receive adequate levels of investment and cash-strapped ICBs are having to make difficult decisions.
The Government must ensure that children’s services are prioritised, The King’s Fund said.
Niamh Buckingham, policy adviser at The King’s Fund, said: ‘With half of all mental health conditions starting before adulthood, we risk missing a crucial window to support children and young people when they need it most.
‘Hundreds of thousands of children are stuck waiting months or even years for mental health support, placing pressure on families, schools, and community services, with wider impacts to their education, relationships, and future.
‘This highlights the need for a renewed focus on preventing poor mental health in early life, as well as action to retain the spotlight on funding children’s mental health services and enabling them to intervene earlier.
‘Otherwise, we risk a generation growing up in uncertainty stuck in waiting rooms, rather than being supported to thrive in classrooms and their communities.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We are working to ensure young people who need mental health support are able to access it at the earliest opportunity.
‘The Mental Health Investment Standard remains in place and mental health spending is forecast to reach a record £16.1 billion this year.
‘We are also increasing access to early support hubs and community-based mental health centres, which provide people with the help they need before they reach a crisis point, and expanding mental health support for young people in their own schools and colleges.’