The All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood has claimed that a reformed Mental Health Act will be little more than ‘sticking plaster’’ unless the needs of children feature ‘first, last and foremost.’
Launching a new APPG report: ‘Children’s Mental Health Beyond the Green Paper: ‘The Role of Practice Based Evidence,’ Chair, Jim Fitzpatrick MP said:
‘The Prime Minister’s pledge to reform the 1983 Mental Health Act (‘The Times,’ Thursday, 6th December 2018) is welcome in order to combat the ‘burning injustice’ of the disparity she has criticised in mental health care. However, reform is long overdue. If new legislation focuses purely upon the adult population, it will be as ineffective as sticking plaster, because poor mental health often makes its first appearance in childhood and is either missed or dismissed. The resultant full-blown adult crisis becomes entrenched and measures to combat it will be correspondingly difficult and costly. Our report offers a ‘practice based evidence’ approach. The needs of children are placed first, last and foremost and I am confident that the strategies outlined will contribute to a society that is mentally resilient as well as physically fit.’
Please read below the Press Release and Report from the APPG on a Fit and Healthy Childhood