Following the publication of a report into the prevalence of self-harming in children Barnardo’s Cymru is calling for children’s mental health services in Wales to be brought up to the standard of those in England.
The report, Truth Hurts, which was produced by the Camelot Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation, found that as many as one in 15 young people have self-harmed.
Sally Jenkins from Barnardo’s Cymru said: “We hope the publication of the national inquiry report will put this issue in the spotlight again and that we can move forward in addressing the gross under-funding in Wales for child mental health.”
Since 2000 England has spend £440 million on services for children and young people with mental health issues. If Wales had to match that level of funding £26.4 million would be needed – as opposed to the £1.7 million that has been spent.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Assembly Government said: “£1.2m recurring funding has been made available to local health boards on a regional basis to develop CAMS commissioning networks. We have also set waiting times targets for CAMS services.”
To read Truth Hurts, click here.
To find out more about Barnardo’s Cymru, click here.