The Royal College of Psychiatrists welcomes
the final report of the National CAMHS Review,
published on 18 November 2008.
Dr Greg Richardson, chair of the College’s
Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said:
“This review makes important recommendations
for the Government, and supports the need for extra resources from
all agencies to help improve the mental health of children
throughout the country.
“We are pleased to see the creation of a new
National Advisory Council on Children’s Mental Health and
Psychological Wellbeing, to be chaired by Dame Jo Williams. We
warmly congratulate Dame Jo, as well as child and adolescent
psychiatrist Dr Lesley Hewson, who will be vice-chair of this
body.
“The Faculty of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry looks forward to working with the NAC on increasing the
awareness of effective interventions. We are also keen to work in
partnership with all agencies and professionals who work with
children and young people and champion their mental health
needs.
“The psychological well-being of children and
young people is a societal issue. In February 2007, UNICEF
published its first-ever report on the well-being of children and
young people in 21 industrialised countries. The UK ranked at the
bottom of this table, scoring low in terms of relative poverty and
deprivation, quality of children’s relationships with their parents
and peers, child health and safety, behaviour and risk-taking and
subjective well-being. In contrast, the North European countries –
notably the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Finland - scored
highly. We need to urgently address this discrepancy, and learn how
the Scandinavian countries ensure their children feel valued in
their society.”
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
Note to editors:
The final report of the independent Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services review was published on 18 November 2008. It is available from www.dcsf.gov.uk/CAMHSreview
Dr Lesley Hewson works as a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist in Bradford, and is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.