Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve early interventions for young people with severe mental health issues.

We recognise the importance of early intervention, and that too many children and young people, including those with severe mental health issues, are not getting the support or care they need. That is why we will recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers across child and adult services, to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, whilst also helping to ease pressure on the busy mental health services.

We will provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school, so that mental health conditions can be identified early on and prevented from developing into more serious conditions in later life.

In addition, NHS England is currently refreshing guidance on children and young people's eating disorders. The refreshed guidance will highlight the importance of awareness and early recognition of eating disorders within schools, colleges, primary care, and broader children and young peoples’ mental health services.