Our campaign for youth mental health
In response to mounting concerns that children and young people’s mental health is being overlooked by the new Government, we've partnered with three leading national charities – Centre for Mental Health, The Centre for Young Lives, and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition.
Together, we're launching a joint campaign to elevate youth mental health on the Government's agenda.
Pooling our networks, expertise, and resources, we aim to deliver a unified campaign that resonates with policymakers ahead of critical decisions in the upcoming Spending Review and 10 Year Plan for Health.
Reports from our campaign
Our roadmap sets out a clear, evidence-informed plan to close the treatment gap and deliver transformative change. By prioritising community-based support, expanding access to diverse and effective interventions, and harnessing digital innovation responsibly, we can ensure help reaches young people where they are – before crises occur.
Young people's mental health is in crisis
The decline in young people’s mental health is one of the biggest health, social and economic challenges of our time.
More than one in five children and young people in England now have a diagnosable mental health condition, yet the NHS can only support around 40% of those in need. Many still aren’t getting the right care, and services are struggling to keep up, leaving millions without support.
As well as the huge human cost, this crisis has serious financial and economic consequences. Without action, the strain on public services will only continue to grow. It harms productivity, earnings and the Government’s agenda for economic growth. And with the long-term impacts of poor mental health still unfolding, the situation is becoming unsustainable.
But change is possible.
The Government’s focus on public service reform and economic growth presents a crucial opportunity to act. Addressing the youth mental health crisis will support four of its five key Missions: Growth, Opportunity, Health, and Safer Streets. We're calling for a costed, phased plan to drive meaningful change.
Did you know...?
- One in five
- children and young people now experience a common mental health problem—almost double since 2017.
- Three out of four
- mental health problems begin by the age of 24.
- Only 10%
- of NHS spending goes towards mental health.
- 31%
- of people in contact with mental health services every year are under 18.
- Only 8%
- of overall mental health spending goes to children and young people's services.
What we're calling for
-
Invest in mental health services
Increase funding for children and young people’s mental health services to meet 70% of diagnosable need by the end of this Parliament. This requires year-on-year investment, starting with an additional £167 million in 2025/26.
-
Expand Mental Health Support Teams
Roll out Mental Health Support Teams across England by the end of this Parliament, ensuring they can meet a broader range of needs. This will require an additional £57 million per year until 2029.
-
Provide open access support
Establish mental health hubs in every community through the Young Futures programme, ensuring every child and young person has a place to turn. This should be scaled up, eventually costing £169 million per year to provide a hub in every local authority area.
-
Build a mental health workforce plan
Develop a comprehensive children and young people’s mental health workforce plan to support young people's mental health.
-
Review the rise in mental health problems
Commission an independent review to understand why more young people are struggling and how the system can respond more effectively.
-
Increase local government funding
Increase long-term local government funding for prevention and early intervention. This includes restoring the public health grant and youth services spending to 2015/16 levels and addressing gaps in children’s social care.
Our key messages
-
Underfunded and overstretched
Youth mental health services don’t have the funding to meet growing demand.
-
The cost of inaction
Rising mental ill health affects not just young people but also public services, the economy, and long-term health outcomes.
-
A worsening crisis
Prevalence has surged since 2017, and without urgent action, the situation will deteriorate further.
-
Proven solutions exist
There are cost-effective models that improve outcomes and reduce the wider impact of poor mental health.
-
A critical opportunity
The Government’s healthcare and public service reforms could transform youth mental health if properly prioritised.
-
A bold plan for change
We’re calling for ambitious reform and investment that will deliver long-term social and economic benefits.
We're working with partners and allies to deliver the change that young people need.
Our report is backed by a range of leading national mental health and children and young people's organisations.