Tackling the Mental Health Crisis in Children and Young People - Are We Finally on the Right Track?

It’s been ten years since Future in Mind set out a vision for transforming children and young people’s mental health services. But despite the promises, the reality is sobering. Mental health challenges among young people have continued to rise, with 1 in 5 aged 8 to 25 reporting a mental health problem in 2023 (NHS Digital).

The Members Report 2025, published by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, takes stock of where we are now - and what needs to happen next. With a new government pledging bold action, from mental health hubs to in-school specialists, we’re asking the big question: are these policies enough to turn the tide, or just another set of well-meaning words?

What’s Changed - Government Commitments in 2024–25

With a new government in place, there’s been a noticeable shift in tone - and on paper, some big promises. Among the key commitments are:

• A mental health professional in every primary and secondary school,

• Young Futures hubs offering drop-in, community-based mental health support,

• A new Child Poverty Strategy aimed at tackling one of the root causes of poor mental health,

• Reform through a new Mental Health Bill, a Children’s Wellbeing Bill, and the development of a 10-Year Health Plan.

For many of us working in or around mental health and education, these policies signal hope - if they’re properly delivered. Members of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition have described the plans as “a good starting point” and “an overarching framework with real potential.”

But there’s cautious optimism too. As one survey respondent put it, “These are all great ideas, but as with any policy, it is the details and the implementation which actually matters.”

The ambitions are there. Now, the focus must shift to action.

Member Perspectives - A Welcome Shift, But…

Members of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition (CYPMHC) largely welcomed the government’s new direction. There’s a shared sense that things are moving the right way - but also a clear message: promises on paper must lead to meaningful change in practice.

Among the proposed measures, parity of esteem between physical and mental health stood out as the most strongly supported, with 90% of members agreeing it has the potential to drive real improvements. Close behind were the commitments to place mental health professionals in every school and to roll out Young Futures hubs across local communities. These were seen as critical steps toward prevention, early intervention, and accessible support for all.

However, not every policy received the same level of confidence. The plan to recruit 8,500 new mental health staff was viewed as falling short. Members raised concerns that this figure doesn’t match the scale of current need - and that without investment in training, retention, and workload management, the sector may continue to struggle.

As one member put it, “Increasing staffing levels is necessary, but it depends on matching the numbers to need, recruiting quickly, and keeping people in post.”

The ambition is there - now we need the capacity to match it.

Financial Priorities - Where the Investment Should Go

When asked where future funding should be focused, CYPMHC members were clear: Young Futures hubs topped the list. These open-access, drop-in centres offer early, community-based support - something many young people desperately need before reaching crisis point.

Second was the call for a Child Poverty Strategy, recognising that tackling poverty is essential to improving mental health outcomes. In third place was investment in mental health professionals in every school, to ensure support is embedded where children spend most of their time.

The logic behind these priorities is simple but powerful: intervene early, make support accessible, and meet young people where they are.

With the next multi-year Spending Review on the horizon, this is a crucial opportunity for the government to show it’s serious about turning pledges into progress. The choices made now could shape the wellbeing of a generation.

Implementation Challenges - The Real Test

While the government’s commitments have been widely welcomed, members of the Coalition were unanimous on one thing: what matters now is how these policies are implemented.

We’ve seen ambitious strategies before. Future in Mind offered a strong vision back in 2015, but without clear delivery mechanisms or accountability, it fell short. Targets around access, joined-up care and timeliness weren’t met - largely because no one was clearly responsible for making them happen.

This time, members are calling for a different approach. We need:

• A clear and transparent implementation plan

• A cabinet-level taskforce with cross-departmental oversight

• Long-term funding frameworks, not short-term patches

As one member put it, “Although these commitments represent a comprehensive and ambitious plan, their success will depend on effective implementation, consistent funding and strong accountability measures.” Another noted, “None of these measures will be sufficient in isolation. Success depends on scope, detail and sustained funding.”

These reflections aren’t just caution - they’re wisdom from years of trying to make change stick. If we get the details right, we can build something that lasts.

Recommendations from the Sector

If we want to make real progress, we have to listen to those working on the ground. The Members Report 2025 outlines three clear recommendations from across the children and young people’s mental health sector.

1. Commission an independent review into the sharp rise in mental health need. This review must have a statutory footing and explore root causes like social media, poverty, and the impact of the pandemic.

2. Commit to meeting 70% of diagnosable need by 2029, starting with an additional £167 million investment in 2025/26. It’s an ambitious target, but one that reflects the scale of what children and families are facing.

3. Develop a comprehensive, costed workforce plan. Recruitment alone isn’t enough - we need to tackle retention issues, training gaps, and the shortage of specialists in areas like eating disorders.

Members also strongly advocated for cross-government coordination. Mental health doesn’t sit neatly in one department - it intersects with education, health, housing, social care and beyond. Without joined-up thinking, even the best plans risk falling apart.

We can’t build a better system without the people to deliver it, the funding to sustain it, and the leadership to guide it. The path forward is clear - it just needs action.

Conclusion - A Moment of Opportunity

We’re standing at a critical crossroads. The new government has a real chance to make lasting change for babies, children and young people - and the sector is watching with both hope and healthy caution.

The policies announced so far show promise. But as many in the field have reminded us, policy alone isn’t enough. What matters now is the delivery: the funding, the coordination, and the follow-through.

This is a moment we can’t afford to waste. If we want to turn ambition into action, we all have a role to play - government, services, communities, and individuals.

Let’s keep the pressure on. Let’s stay involved. And most importantly, let’s work together to give every child the mentally healthy future they deserve.