Young people say politicians don't care about their mental health

My child had started self-harming and engaging in risky behaviours before they got any help. By then, it was too far down the line, and we continued to experience crisis after crisis, which resulted in an inpatient admission. It really didn’t need to be this way. If early help had been available, if I had been believed when I asked for help, if there were not long waiting lists, if school had understood, maybe our story would be different. We did come out the other side, but we are one of the lucky families, because not every child makes it. That is the devastating reality of this lack of investment in children’s mental health. Lives are lost or changed forever, and this cannot go on. There are an ‘army’ of parents out there who are fighting for our children. It’s time to stop having to fight, because we deserve better.

The reality is the mental health system is at breaking point. The scale and severity of mental health need among children and young people is spiralling, but the level and quality of care needed is simply not there. When young people and their parents speak together with one voice, politicians need to listen. Investing in services like early support hubs for children and young people is a crucial way for politicians to show they understand the mental health challenges young people are facing and that they’re committed to tackling the issue. We can’t afford to wait a moment longer to prioritise mental health for current and future generations.

The mental health of children and young people could be a critical deciding factor in the next election. Our polling lays bare that a significant majority of voters feel political leaders have failed to prioritise this vital issue over the last decade – and less than a quarter have any hope this will change with a new government. It’s clear that voters of all ages want change – from more investment in mental health services to strong community support through schools and early help hubs. We call on candidates from across the political spectrum to finally put the mental health of babies, children and young people at the heart of this election and create the change that is so desperately needed.

Mental health services are at breaking point, but too little action and too many broken promises are impacting young people’s faith in politics as well as their mental health. We need solutions that look honestly at the systems around young people and make changes now to stop things getting worse. That means making sure young people have access to support when they need it through early support hubs but also that they get the best education, can heat their homes as well as eat well, and can look forward to a future that is bright and promising. Given the state of play, young people and mental health should be at the heart of this election. Politicians need to listen to the voices of young people and start to tackle the deep-rooted causes of the mental health crisis. We need a society that makes them want to belong, that shows them they and their mental health matter, otherwise we will all suffer in the long run.