A Labour Mayor needs to take a strong, pro-active approach to children’s mental health. To deal effectively with the rising number of children and young people with mental health problems, the Mayor must develop a strategy for supporting families and supporting schools to understand what is needed for good mental health. Parenting support needs to be made available where families are struggling to cope with difficult or worrying behaviours. Schools need to be resourced to ensure that services are in place for children whose mental health is fragile. In order to identify those children, teachers need to be trained in child mental health, which the mayor should campaign for alongside many professionals in the field.
Children and young people who enjoy good mental health contribute positively to safer, happier communities.