Review of CAMHS
Around one in ten children and young people will experience behavioural, emotional and mental health problems at some point in their lives, with twice as many boys - aged 5 to 10 years - diagnosed with a mental health disorder compared to girls.
The Government's vision for improving children's mental health is set out in Chapter 9 of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services:
"All children and young people, from birth to their eighteenth birthday, who have mental health problems and disorders, have access to timely, integrated, high quality multidisciplinary mental health services to ensure effective assessment, treatment and support for them and their families".
The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services is a 10-year programme, launched jointly by the DCSF and DH in 2004 and to be completed by 2014.
The Government knows that there are still gaps in the current CAMHS system and wants to see more early intervention in schools, as well as services working better together across the different boundaries to ensure that children and young people get the best support available regardless of the complexity of their needs.
Children with mental health problems deserve a better service than they are currently being given, which is why in December 2007 Children's Secretary Ed Balls and Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced their plans for a review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The external review of CAMHS was led by Jo Davidson, Chief Officer at Gloucestershire County Council and current chair of the 0-7 Group of the Children's Plan. The review drew on advice from experts in the field of child and adolescent mental health services. The final report, containing 20 recommendations for Government, was launched on 18 November 2008. The Government has also published its initial response to each of the 20 recommendations.
For more information, and to download the final report and the Government response, go to the DCSF Review of CAMHS page.
Please visit this page regularly for updates of the review.
This page was last updated on 18 November 2008
