Campaign # Access to counselling for every child

We’re calling for child-led mental health care to be available in all schools and primary care settings, with the opportunity for children to access remote mental health support for those who need it.

Mental health issues in children and young people are increasing at a rapid rate, and the support they're currently receiving is inadequate both in terms of what's being offered to them and the time they're spending on waiting lists. This has a detrimental effect on their future, and puts further pressure on health, care, and education services.

We’re calling for child-led mental health care to be available in all schools and primary care settings, with the opportunity for children to access remote mental health support for those who need it (such as children in care, forgotten children, and those in nomadic communities). One of the key areas to address is the ‘missing middle’ – children who are presenting with issues too complex for low intensity mental health support, such as Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners or Educational Mental Health Practitioners but aren’t considered “unwell enough” for Children & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

**In 2022, 18% of children aged 7 to 16 years and 22% of young people aged 17 to 24 years had a probable mental disorder.** (NHS Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022)

**Just over one in three children and young people with a diagnosable mental health condition get access to NHS care and treatment.** (NHS)

## Take action

[### Write to your MP 951 KB | pdf Write to your MP using our template which you can download and edit Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/Access-to-Counselling-for-Every-Child-Letter-to-MPs-Fillable.pdf) 

## Resources

We have a selection of resources available that you can download and share.

[### CYP campaign downloads 8 MB | pdf We have a selection of resources available that you can download and share. Download Download](https://ncps.lon1.digitaloceanspaces.com/files/CYP-campaign-resourses.pdf) 

## Related articles

[### No Child Left Behind: Why every child needs access to the right kind of support for them Mental health issues among children and young people have been escalating at an alarming rate. According to NHS figures, referrals to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) witnessed a staggering 76% increase since 2019.](https://ncps.com/our-voice/no-child-left-behind-why-every-child-needs-access-to-the-right-kind-of-support-for-them) 

[### A Plea for Accessibility: The Crucial Role of Counselling in Children & Young People's Mental Health The recently reported increase in children and young people seeking mental health support from the NHS is further confirmation of what we already know; that…](https://ncps.com/our-voice/a-plea-for-accessibility-the-crucial-role-of-counselling-in-children-young-peoples-mental-health) 

[### Young Minds Report: Deconstructing the System & Our Campaigns "Many young people expressed they want to see more treatment options beyond CBT, and would like to be able to access early intervention without any thresholds"…](https://ncps.com/our-voice/young-minds-report-deconstructing-the-system-our-campaigns) 

[### Young People Face "Postcode Lottery" In Child And Adolescent Mental Health Care Those working within mental health provision for children and young people already know that waiting lists are skyrocketing](https://ncps.com/our-voice/young-people-face-postcode-lottery-in-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-care)