Lynn Perry, Barnardo’s Chief Executive said:
“The mental health of children and young people across the country is at a crisis point. Today’s figures around a record high in waiting times for mental health services are a damning indication of our continued failure to address this issue.
“At Barnardo’s we see the profound impact that untreated mental health challenges are having every single day. As a leading reason for poor school attendance, untreated mental health issues limit children and young people’s ability to thrive in adulthood - threatening the prospects of an entire generation. We believe that no child should be left to deal with their mental health alone. Investment into early intervention and prevention is crucial, so that no child has to reach crisis point in the first place.
“To make sure that children and young people can access the compassionate and timely support they need, and to help ease pressures on the already burdened NHS, we are calling for the expansion of Mental Health Support Teams to include school counsellors in England.”