A new report into the current state of England’s mental health services shows a significant amount of people needing help are not receiving it.
The report, by an independent taskforce chaired by the chief executive of mental health charity Mind, Paul Farmer, highlighted massive shortfalls in services for people of all ages.
Its findings will inform government spending as part of a five-year pledge to give much-needed "parity of esteem" to mental and physical health care.
Children and young people are faring especially badly, the report said, with half of all mental health diagnoses occurring by age 15, and 75% by 24, but not enough services being available to meet those needs.
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Between 2013/14 and 2014/15, referrals to Adolescent Mental Health Services grew five times faster than the workforce of the necessary services.
Children from lower income families were found to have a three times higher risk of developing mental heath problems than those from the highest.
Most were unable to access mental health support, and those who did faced a wait of up to 32 weeks for psychological therapies in 2014/15.
Left untreated, children and young people with conduct disorder – persistent, disobedient, disruptive and aggressive behaviour – were found to be more likely to develop drug and alcohol addictions and were 20 times more likely to end up in prison.
