Recommendations & Conclusions
11 items
1
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
Children and young people’s mental health is an all-society issue. The problems discussed in this report can only be addressed by Government departments, local government and the health system acting together to promote good mental health and prevent new crises emerging. We recommend setting up a Cabinet sub-committee to bring …
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Children and young people’s mental health is an all-society issue. The problems discussed in this report can only be addressed by Government departments, local government and the health system acting together to promote good mental health and prevent new crises emerging. We recommend setting up a Cabinet sub-committee to bring together different departments to make sure this happens.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, stating that while Cabinet committees are the Prime Minister's prerogative, they have retained a cross-government Ministerial group to monitor progress on mental health. This is alongside NHS England and Improvement's Independent Advisory and Oversight Group to ensure targeted …
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Department of Health and Social Care
2
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
Although the full long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of children and young people under the age of 25 is as yet unknown, it is already clear that the mental health needs of these groups have been much exacerbated by the pandemic. This has been supported …
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Although the full long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of children and young people under the age of 25 is as yet unknown, it is already clear that the mental health needs of these groups have been much exacerbated by the pandemic. This has been supported by NHS data from July 2020 which shows that one in six young people now have a probable mental health disorder. But the impact of this has not been even across different children and young people, with older teenage girls, for example, particularly affected by the rise in eating disorders. In order to understand the level of need in children and young people’s mental health as well as the inequalities that continue to exist, more regular and accurate prevalence data is urgently needed.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, committing to a comprehensive national survey every 7 years, with the next one in 2024. They also highlight follow-up surveys conducted in 2020, 2021, and an imminent third wave to understand the pandemic's impact on children and young …
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Department of Health and Social Care
6
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
We expect a full and comprehensive update from the Department on what measures it will implement, how this work will be funded and a timeframe for key outcomes relating to increased early intervention and prevention. We expect this information by the end of January 2022. (Paragraph 36) Increasing access to …
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We expect a full and comprehensive update from the Department on what measures it will implement, how this work will be funded and a timeframe for key outcomes relating to increased early intervention and prevention. We expect this information by the end of January 2022. (Paragraph 36) Increasing access to mental health services
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, reporting on ongoing piloting and consultation for mental health waiting time standards. It states it will work with NHSEI on next steps for proposed access and waiting measures, but does not provide the full update by the specified …
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Department of Health and Social Care
12
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
NHS England & Improvement must accelerate the implementation of the 0–25 offer in every local area as a national priority so that young people do not continue to face a cliff edge in accessing the care they require as they transition from children to adult services.
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NHS England & Improvement must accelerate the implementation of the 0–25 offer in every local area as a national priority so that young people do not continue to face a cliff edge in accessing the care they require as they transition from children to adult services.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts this recommendation in part, stating that full implementation depends on annual business planning and future grant confirmations from the Department for Education. The response then details the allocation of over £9.5 million for senior mental health lead training in schools and colleges.
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Department of Health and Social Care
16
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
We therefore recommend that the Department of Health and Social Care fully fund and scale up the roll out of Mental Health Support Teams to cover two thirds of schools in England by 2024/25 and 100% by 2027/28.
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, focusing on the establishment of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and Partnerships (ICPs) through the Health and Care Bill. These bodies will be responsible for local planning and provision of health and social care services, including children and young …
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Department of Health and Social Care
26
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
Inpatient units have a role to play in treating some of the most severe and complex mental health conditions, especially those that are resistant to community treatment. However, in most cases the most compassionate and effective care for children and young people is provided in the community–and increasing its provision …
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Inpatient units have a role to play in treating some of the most severe and complex mental health conditions, especially those that are resistant to community treatment. However, in most cases the most compassionate and effective care for children and young people is provided in the community–and increasing its provision must be the overall aim of the Department and NHS England & Improvement. We have Children and young people’s mental health 59 set out the benefits of Trieste model of care in more detail in our report into The treatment of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities. We believe that the principles of this model of care are also appropriate for children and young people’s mental health treatment.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, prioritizing community care for children and young people's mental health and shortening initial detention periods under the Mental Health Act. However, it will not introduce more legislative checks for children alone and states that further work is needed …
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Department of Health and Social Care
27
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
We therefore recommend that the Department accelerates the shift towards increased community-based provision and a reduced inpatient bed base as a national priority to ensure that children and young people with the most complex needs receive good quality care in a setting that is right for them. A national strategy …
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We therefore recommend that the Department accelerates the shift towards increased community-based provision and a reduced inpatient bed base as a national priority to ensure that children and young people with the most complex needs receive good quality care in a setting that is right for them. A national strategy should be set out to establish jointly commissioned health and social care services. To ensure children and young people are not ‘parked’ in inappropriate in-patient care, an independent psychiatrist should sign off the need for inpatient provision on a monthly basis for all young people who have stayed for longer than three months in a mental health hospital. This should be backed up by legislative changes. It should equally apply to those with a learning disability, autism, or both.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation in part, rejecting the legislative requirement for monthly independent psychiatrist sign-off for children, but plans to shorten the initial Mental Health Act detention period from six to three months. They also referenced ongoing work to accelerate community-based provision through existing …
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Department of Health and Social Care
36
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
We are deeply concerned about the increasing numbers of children and young people who experience self-harm and suicide and the quality of care they are able to access. Much more needs to be done to tackle suicide and self-harm amongst children and young people. In particular, given the link between …
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We are deeply concerned about the increasing numbers of children and young people who experience self-harm and suicide and the quality of care they are able to access. Much more needs to be done to tackle suicide and self-harm amongst children and young people. In particular, given the link between self-harm in children and young people and later suicidality, any suicide prevention strategy must include improving the support available to those who self-harm. We have heard that too often, children and young people’s mental health services are not commissioned with self-harm in mind. It is essential that self-harm is not used as a reason to reject referrals to mental health services. While we welcome the inclusion of self-harm in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, we are clear that support must be available earlier to these children and young people, before they reach a crisis point.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, accelerating the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) and committing £79 million to expand children and young people's mental health services. They also plan a new CQUIN incentive in April 2022 to improve A&E care for self-harm, …
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Department of Health and Social Care
37
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Department implement a new system of early intervention to support children and young people who self-harm and are at risk of committing suicide. Educational settings, as a universal provision, can have an important role to provide effective early intervention to pupils who may be struggling with …
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We recommend that the Department implement a new system of early intervention to support children and young people who self-harm and are at risk of committing suicide. Educational settings, as a universal provision, can have an important role to provide effective early intervention to pupils who may be struggling with self-harm before the mental health need becomes more acute. Mental Health Support Teams are well placed to deliver these interventions and an accelerated roll out of these teams would increase the capacity of schools and colleges to support those children and young people who may be struggling. Education Mental Health Practitioners must be trained in self-harm and suicide prevention specifically.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, committing to accelerate the roll-out of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) to cover 25% of the country by FY 2022/23 and 3 million children by FY 2023/24 with additional funding. Education Mental Health Practitioners' training includes competencies for …
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Department of Health and Social Care
39
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
Preventing the worst mental health outcomes means first creating the conditions across society that are conducive to good mental health and wellbeing. We welcome the support provided by the former Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health to a ‘cross-governmental’ strategy to prevent the worst mental health outcomes …
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Preventing the worst mental health outcomes means first creating the conditions across society that are conducive to good mental health and wellbeing. We welcome the support provided by the former Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health to a ‘cross-governmental’ strategy to prevent the worst mental health outcomes for children and young people as well as her recognition that mental health should not be only the concern of the Department of Health and Social Care. The complex, multifaceted nature of the causes of suicide and self-harm necessitates a public health approach to suicide prevention that involves cooperation between Government departments, local government, education and the care sector. Given that self-harm is often used as a coping mechanism for other forms of severe emotional distress, the wider points made on public mental health in Chapter 1 of this Report will also help to prevent it.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the conclusion in part, planning to launch a public discussion paper to inform a new longer-term mental health strategy, engaging various sectors in a public health approach to mental health.
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Department of Health and Social Care
40
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Children and young peop…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that each Government Department, led by the Department of Health and Social Care should set out specific, measurable objectives for mental health promotion in each policy area. This should include policies that aim to build mental health resilience in the population as a whole, as well as specific …
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We recommend that each Government Department, led by the Department of Health and Social Care should set out specific, measurable objectives for mental health promotion in each policy area. This should include policies that aim to build mental health resilience in the population as a whole, as well as specific interventions targeted at those who have the greatest mental health need. (Paragraph 173) 62 Children and young people’s mental health
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation in part, planning to launch a public discussion paper to inform a new longer-term mental health strategy. This strategy aims to drive a wide-ranging conversation about improving mental health and wellbeing.
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Department of Health and Social Care