Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Deferred
For those children and young people who prefer accessing help online, digital services can be...
Conclusion
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. (Paragraph 117) Inpatient care
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepts the recommendation in part but states it plans to launch a public discussion paper to inform a new longer-term mental health strategy, deferring specific commitments on digital mental health services.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
The Government is considering this recommendation. The Department recognises the role that digital support can play in supporting children and young people’s mental health. Though NHS mental health services remained open throughout the pandemic, children and young people’s services also deployed digital tools to connect with people and provide ongoing support. However, digital delivery is not always appropriate and it is important to retain the option for children and young people to use face-to-face mental health services. Through the Every Mind Matters campaign, the Government is raising awareness of the guidance and tools that are available to support children and young people’s mental wellbeing, and to ensure that those who need urgent support are directed towards appropriate services. Equally, the Government is aware of evidence that most vulnerable groups may be not able to benefit from adoption of digital technologies for contact with their health services. Throughout the pandemic, NHSE/I has been requesting providers and local systems to keep mental health services running and accessible and to keep continuity of care throughout the biggest peaks of the pandemic. Use of digital was recommended only if appropriate for the given patient. In the latest wave – the Omicron variant – NHSE/I has specifically called on providers and systems to keep providing face-to-face services wherever possible, supporting the most vulnerable patients to stay safe and well in the community.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗