Select committee: Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 2
Eighth Report - Children and young people’s mental health
Published 9 Dec 2021
Paragraph 28
Addressed to Department of Health and Social Care
Health and Social Care Committee Children and young people's mental health All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
From: Health and Social Care Committee, Eighth Report - Children and young people’s mental health (HC 17), paragraph 28, 9 December 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 18 March 2022 (deadline 9 February 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's report and says it has "considered the recommendations", with responses that accept some in part, accept a few in full, and are considering others.
- On a cabinet sub-committee (Recommendation 1), it accepts in part, saying "the portfolios of ministers and cabinet committees are the prerogative of the Prime Minister", and it retains a cross-government Ministerial group.
- On 100% access to specialist support (Recommendation 4), "the government is considering" it, adding that plans beyond current commitments "are contingent on future funding settlements".
- It agrees the gap between mental health surveys was too long and commits to "a comprehensive national survey every 7 years", with the next in 2024, rather than the Committee's 3-year cycle.
- It accepts the recommendation on expanding Independent Mental Health Advocates to informal patients, but says this is "subject to future funding decisions".