Recent findings from leading mental health organizations—Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, Mind, and YoungMinds—reveal a concerning perception among young people and parents: politicians are not adequately addressing mental health issues. This sentiment underscores an urgent call for mental health to be prioritized in the upcoming election and by the next government.
Politicians Out of Touch with Youth Mental Health Needs
A striking 43% of young people feel that major political parties are indifferent to their mental health needs. Additionally, nearly 60% of adults believe that politicians have failed to address mental health issues over the past decade, with less than 25% expecting it to be a priority in the forthcoming election.
Young people attribute this perceived neglect to a lack of understanding and recognition from politicians. Over half of the youth surveyed (52%) believe politicians do not grasp the challenges they face, while 41% feel politicians do not acknowledge the severity of the mental health crisis.
Parental Concerns Over Mental Health Services
Nearly half (49%) of the 9.5 million parents surveyed express worry that the current state of mental health services will adversely affect their children’s futures. Alarmingly, mental health services rank higher in parental concern than climate change, employment, education, crime, and global conflicts.
Escalating Youth Mental Health Crisis
NHS data reveals a sharp increase in mental health issues among young people: one in five now have a probable mental health condition, a significant rise from one in nine in 2017. Despite this growing need, mental health services face unprecedented referral rates and substantial unmet demand.
Advocacy for Early Support Hubs
Mental health organizations advocate for the next government to implement early support hubs within its first year, a move supported by 67% of voters. These hubs would offer essential services to young people up to 25 years old, providing early intervention to prevent crises. Evidence suggests these hubs are particularly effective in reaching young people who have left school and those from LGBTQIA+ and minority communities, groups often underserved by traditional mental health services.
Voices from the Frontlines
Chloe, a 21-year-old YoungMinds activist, emphasizes the importance of prioritizing youth mental health: “Early intervention is crucial for prevention and recovery. The next government must fund and support early support hubs and expand mental health services for young people.”
An anonymous parent shared a harrowing experience: “My child’s struggles escalated to self-harm and risky behaviors before any help was available. If early support had been accessible, our story might have been different. Many families are not as fortunate as ours, and we must change this reality. Parents should not have to fight so hard for essential services.”
The urgent message from these organizations is clear: without immediate and significant investment in mental health services, young lives and futures remain at risk. This election presents a critical opportunity for political leaders to demonstrate genuine commitment to addressing this crisis.
