Consultation on 10 Year Mental Health Plan Launched

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Consultation on 10 Year Mental Health Plan Launched

Awareness of the importance of mental health has probably never been higher. Especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, the need to look after our mental wellbeing is more apparent than ever. But awareness alone is not enough, and practical steps are necessary to improve the nation’s mental health. To this end, the government has launched a consultation on a 10 year mental health plan, with a particular focus on children and young people.

The childcare sector will have a significant role to play in any new strategy. For children who struggle with their mental wellbeing, having access to high quality early education and activities can make a significant difference. Staff working with children therefore have a need to understand how they can help through the service they are providing. Even identifying a concern could make a real impact as government figures suggest that currently 60% of children with a diagnosable mental health condition currently do not receive NHS support. Moreover the number of children who probably suffer from mental health disorders has risen from 11.6% in 2017 to 17.4% in 2021. Whether the pandemic is behind this alarming increase, or other pressures of modern society is not yet certain.

Of course adults suffer from mental health difficulties to, ranging from long term depression to acute stress and anxiety. While it has become easier to talk about, getting access to the right resources is often challenging. If an adult working with children’s own mental health is suffering, the consequences for the child are obvious. The government is asking the public to contribute answers to six questions to help shape the policy to address these challenges:

  1. How can we all promote positive mental wellbeing?
  2. How can we all prevent the onset of mental health conditions?
  3. How can we all intervene earlier when people need support with their mental health?
  4. How can we improve the quality and effectiveness of treatment for mental health?
  5. How can we all support people with mental health conditions to live well?
  6. How can we all improve support for people in crisis?

You can read the full consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/mental-health-and-wellbeing-plan-discussion-paper-and-call-for-evidence/mental-health-and-wellbeing-plan-discussion-paper

Don’t forget that Morton Michel policyholders, their staff and families have access to a free, confidential counselling line from ARAG.