Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health Services

Baroness Pidgeon Excerpts

Thursday 2nd July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I agree with the noble Baroness’s observations. Early intervention is key. That is what our entire focus is on, in the ways we have already discussed, and also on developing a children and young people’s modern service framework because we want to reduce variation and ensure that children get the right support at the right time.

[Baroness Pidgeon (LD)]

My Lord, recent analysis from the charity Young Minds shows that, for the eighth month in a row, the average waiting time from referral to specialist support for young people was more than 300 days, and in the worst case it was two and a half years. Will the Government commit to using the forthcoming cross-government strategy to deliver open-access mental health support in every community for young people up to the age of 25?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The point about age is important and one that we will be considering as we go forward with the mental health strategy. Waiting times are way too long, but there is a particular challenge that we have to meet, which is that some 10% of young people are waiting for an inordinate amount of time, as the noble Baroness said. I was very glad that the report does recognise that increased prevalence is a driver. One in 10 17 to 19 year-olds was in need in 2017 and now it is 1.4. I think that gives some idea of the scale and of why we have to make such a systematic change.