Children and young people’s mental health: committees announce first evidence session
In the first evidence session of this inquiry, MPs will consider the causes of growing levels of need over recent years for mental health services among children and young people.
Meeting details
Analysis by YoungMinds found that 932,822 people under the age of 18 had an active referral to mental health services in March, which included 134,837 new referrals. Both figures are the highest on record for a single month.
There may be questions at points of the session about possible regulation of social media and the effects of prolonged screen time.
MPs will also use the session to examine problems in the accessibility of services, amid reports of thresholds to receive care being too high, leaving a ‘missing middle’ unable to get help until their problems escalate.
Witnesses are also likely to be asked about the conclusions of the recent Milburn review on the reasons for high rates of unemployment among young adults, and the interim findings of the Fonagy Review into the prevalence of mental health conditions.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza will be asked to reflect on how education and healthcare settings could improve patient care through greater collaboration and data sharing.