The Government must use the coronavirus pandemic as a catalyst to fix the ‘broken’ children and young people’s mental health system so it works for each individual child.
This is the message from Barnardo’s, which says the lessons learned during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis must not be forgotten when it is, eventually, a distant memory.
It comes as young people who are supported by the UK’s leading children’s charity say they have had mixed experiences about the ways services have adapted during the pandemic.
This has included by embracing alternative therapies and the use of digital technology such as video calls to provide ongoing support to children.
Using technology has worked well for some children because they have more control over when and where they get support.
But others have found it difficult due to digital poverty, where they do not have a smartphone or internet access, which has put them at a considerable disadvantage.
Some have found it difficult to fully interact with professionals online, when they have been used to in-person, one-to-one support.
Barnardo’s says the Government has some good mental health policies, like the 0 to 25 promise in the NHS 10 year plan which will end the ‘cliff edge’ at 18, but it argues progress hasn’t been anywhere near fast enough and says young people simply cannot afford to wait.
It says the Government needs to learn lessons from the pandemic and must ensure that all the different ways a child can access support at the moment – whether that’s one-to-one support in person, through apps and video calls, alternative therapies, or a combination of all of these – are still available once the Covid-19 crisis is over.
Support needs to be tailored to the needs of the individual, rather than being a one-size fits all approach.
And it needs to ensure there is long term, sustainable funding for children’s mental health to rebuild the system from the ground up with children and young people at the heart.
One of the young people supported by Barnardo’s, and who has worked with the charity to ensure the views of her peers are heard, is Tia, from Plymouth.
Tia said: “It’s vital that the Government listens to young people about our experiences of mental health services during the pandemic and involves us when looking at how they should operate in the post-Covid world.
“There cannot be a one size fits all solution. What is right for one child will not be right for another. While some have embraced alternative therapies and getting support online, others have struggled to access services.
“It’s important for us to have a say in helping shape services so they work for each individual.”
Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said: “Even before the pandemic the system was failing too many children and young people with mental health needs. Instead of going back to a broken system, we need a radically new approach.
“We need to identify and support children earlier, before they reach crisis point. We need to end the ‘cliff edge’ at 18, where help often drops off. And we need to make sure every child and young person can access the type of help that works for them – whether that’s digital, support in the community, alternative therapies, or traditional cognitive behaviour therapy.
“This generation is facing a unique set of challenges, and improving their mental health and wellbeing is a vital step towards the positive future they deserve.”
Mental health is at the heart of Barnardo’s work across all of its more than a thousand services across the UK.
It also supports more than 40,000 children, young people, parents and carers through its commissioned UK-wide mental health services – including 28,700 children through its school-based programmes aimed at improving emotional health and wellbeing.
This mental health work is partly funded thanks to the generosity of the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised over £4million for Barnardo’s so far.
