Barbara has said that the Tory Government’s recent proposals to improve children’s mental health services are inadequate without the resources needed for the improvements. They will not deal with the “Burning Injustice” of mental health treatment delays and shortages.

Barbara was speaking in a Westminster debate on supporting children’s mental health in schools. Instead of their recent proposals, Barbara said that Government should fund a counsellor in every school, ring-fence the extra cash earmarked  for children’s mental health services and make Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education a required subject in schools.

Commenting on Theresa May’s recent speech on Mental Health services for children and young people, Barbara said:

“Although it is welcome that Theresa May has spent time talking about mental health issues and treatment, the Government’s latest proposals for improvements are inadequate. They will not deal properly with the “burning injustice” faced by children and young people with mental ill health.”

“The Government’s proposals are for teacher training in secondary schools, a Green Paper and yet another Review of services. Instead of this, I am suggesting that the Government invest properly in children’s mental health services by ring-fencing additional cash for children’s mental health services, funding a counsellor in every school and by bringing in statutory PSHE education.

“The Government’s proposals do nothing to improve waiting times for treatment for children and young people in Greater Manchester and put pressure on schools to take on extra work on mental health at a time when they are cutting school budgets.”