New Mental Health Legislation for Children

EDM #2285, Tabled 09 April 2019 (2017-19 Session)

Supporter

That this House agrees with the Prime Minister that the state of mental health legislation as it stands constitutes a burning injustice to people living with a mental health illness and notes her intention to introduce a Bill in 2019; further notes that every year one young person in ten experiences a mental health problem, that severe and persistent problems starting before secondary school which go unsupported can have a long term impact on children’s mental health and life chances, that young people in the youth justice system are three times more likely to experience a diagnosable mental health condition than children who don’t offend, that 75 per cent of adults with a diagnosable mental health problem experience the first symptoms by the age of 24; asserts that new mental health legislation must focus on the needs of children, invest in a properly qualified workforce, ensure policy is informed by the best available evidence, be adequately funded, recognise the needs of parents and carers; and calls upon the Government to include a new Mental Health Bill in the next Queen’s Speech that focuses on the needs of children.