Barnardo's responds to plans to roll out mental health support hubs across England.
Barnardo's welcomes a new focus on prevention and early intervention help and support for children and young people with mild mental health concerns.
The government has this week announced that 24 mental health hubs will be rolled out across England. The drop-in centres will offer mental health support for children and young people without a referral from a doctor or school. Support will include group work, counselling, psychological therapies, specialist advice and signposting to other sources of help.
Becky Rice, policy manager for Barnardo's, said: "For years, children and young people have been sinking further into a mental health crisis - one in five are now predicted to have a mental health condition.
"A lack of prevention and early intervention services has led to increasing pressure on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), rising waiting times and referrals being rejected. This often means that children and young people's mental health must get worse before they can receive help to get better.
"The expansion of Community Hubs will provide early help for children and young people without referral. We welcome the focus they place on early intervention support, which has previously been sorely lacking.
"Barnardo's runs early intervention mental health support services in schools and community settings to provide vital help as soon as a child or young person starts to experience difficulties.
"We want to see a further rollout of support like this, including counsellors for schools, so children and young people can access support in a timely and consistent manner."