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Children, young people and families, Mental health

BPS Briefing - Children and Young Peoples Mental Health and Wellbeing

Outlines the society’s response to recent analysis and reports regarding the decline of children and young people’s mental health.

05 February 2021

BPS Briefing

By Policy Team

Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing


New statistics from NHS Digital, released last year, show an increase in the prevalence of mental health difficulties in children and young people. This underlines that the current approach and funding model is not working. We need to prioritise prevention and early intervention using psychological approaches that are proven to work with children and their families, peers, schools and communities to address wider social factors. Psychological and social factors should be at the heart of all high level strategic planning in relation to mental health services. Action needs to be taken to address the societal factors that contribute to mental health difficulties, such as poverty and discrimination. Not only is this in the best interests of children and young people, but prevention is cheaper than cure.

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