The Centre for Mental Health says that the government must 'invest in childhood' or risk losing the next generation of young people to mental ill health.

A recent report by NHS Providers showed that the life chances of a ‘forgotten generation’ are being harmed due to delays accessing care, with the NHS struggling to meet rapidly rising demand and increasingly complex and acute care needs among children and young people.

Isabel Lawicka, director of policy and strategy, NHS Providers, said:

"The Centre for Mental Health is spot on about the need to provide timely, fair and effective care as well as intervening earlier. Far too many young lives are being blighted by delays to getting vital care.

"Despite seeing record numbers of people, NHS mental health services are experiencing huge increases in demand - considerably higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic - particularly for services like children and young people's ADHD and autism assessment services.

"Nobody in the NHS wants mental health patients to wait a moment longer than they have to and trust leaders and staff are doing everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible, in the face of extreme pressure and significant challenges.

"It’s disappointing that the share of NHS spending on mental health fell last year and is set to fall again this year at a time of soaring demand for services. The government's promised 10-year plan is a golden chance to give mental health the priority it deserves long-term and to help mental health services to keep improving."