Today stem4 is joining 140+ organisations in calling all political parties to put young people at the heart of this General Election. Our open letter contains 3 demands urging political leaders set out their solutions to the pressing issues facing young people, including mental health.
Firstly, the letter calls on politicians to set out their priorities for vulnerable children. With one in eight 5 to 19 year olds having at least one mental health condition, the problems children face can last a lifetime if not addressed, with consequences for the whole of society.
Secondly, in order for these priorities to be implemented, the letter demands that children be put at the front of the queue for investment. At current, the services that support young people are facing a funding crisis. The number of children needing support is continuing to rise whilst the amount of money the Government provides to spend on children’s services has fallen. The Local Government Association estimates that the funding gap for children’s services will be £3.1bn by 2024. England’s Children’s Commissioner also says £10bn is needed to ensure all disadvantaged children get a chance to thrive. Support from services and professionals must thus be properly funded.
stem4 has long emphasised the need for early intervention and prompt action in treating commonly occurring mental health problems. The letter, however, shows we are currently spending more on the consequences of children ending up in crisis and less and less on preventing crisis in the first place. In the past decade, spending on early intervention services fell by 49% while spending on statutory, late intervention services rose by 12%. There is a strong evidence base suggesting early intervention is not only crucial in ensuring mental health issues do not affect young people into their adulthood, but is effective in terms of resources used. The third demand set out in the letter for re-balancing spending on services to prioritise early intervention is thus not only better for young people, it is a better use of funding for everyone.
You can download the full letter HERE
You can show your support on social media using the hashtag #ChildrenAtTheHeart. Children and young people are also joining our call and raising their voices on social media, using the hashtag #IfIWerePM to share their priorities for the next Government.