Select committee: Health and Social Care Committee
Conclusion 25
Eighth Report - Children and young people’s mental health
Published 9 Dec 2021
Paragraph 117
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 ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
For those children and young people who prefer accessing help online, digital services can be an important way of reducing barriers to access so it is important that a digital offer should be available for all young people. To prevent over-medicalisation of mental health conditions this should include self-help options as well as digital counselling offers. However, digital support options are not appropriate for all children and young people, and in fact can pose barriers and exacerbate inequalities for some. Therefore, targets for improving access to services should not be met by over-reliance on digital support. These models should complement, rather than replace the existing in-person offers.
From: Health and Social Care Committee, Eighth Report - Children and young people’s mental health (HC 17), paragraph 117, 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".