Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Reforms pledged on mental health of children (UK)
Story in the Guardian - "The government last night pledged fundamental reform of children's mental health services after the Guardian published evidence of a sharp increase in emotional and behavioural problems among teenagers. The health secretary, John Reid, will tomorrow announce plans to provide 24-hour access to psychiatric services for the seriously disturbed and more help for troubled children through schools and local authorities. The Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) will be instructed to include 16 and 17-year-olds, who have previously been treated as adults, and hospitals will be told that it is no longer acceptable to admit young people to adult wards. The initiative comes in response to mounting concern about the deterioration of teenagers' mental health over the past 25 years..."