Charity calls for improvements to mental health services for children and young people facing cancer

Today, on World Mental Health Day (Monday 10 October), we are once again calling on the government to ensure children and young people facing cancer get the mental health support they need. At Young Lives vs Cancer we know the impact of cancer goes beyond a young person’s physical health so a tailored approach must be taken to ensure no child or young person is excluded from receiving emotional and mental health support.

Our research has told us that 79% of young people felt cancer had a serious impact on their emotional wellbeing, but 41% of young people did not access support for the mental health impact of their cancer diagnosis and treatment, due to delays, lack of information, and appropriate support not being available. With a worsening cost of living crisis, having the right mental health support for children and young people with cancer is now more critical than ever.

In July, we wrote to the government after the announcement of their ten-year plan to improve mental health services, to make sure the needs of children and young people facing cancer were considered within the plan. We still have yet to hear anything about the next steps for this plan.

This World Mental Health Day, our Chief Executive Rachel Kirby-Rider has written to the Shadow Minister for Mental Health to continue these conversations and arrange a meeting to discuss the support children and young people need going forward.

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive at Young Lives vs Cancer says: “Improving the mental health of children and young people, and in particular those with cancer, must remain not only a priority for government but also globally. NHS data suggests that in the UK, 1 in 6 of all children aged 5-16 had a probable mental health disorder in 2020, an increase from 1 in 9 in 2017.

“Mental health services and staff are under significant pressure with a mounting backlog and stretched resources resulting in children and young people being unable to access the mental health support they need.

“We welcome the government’s call for a ten-year plan to improve mental health services but this plan must cater for children and young people with to cancer to ensure that they do not fall through the gaps. In our 2017 ‘Hidden Costs’ report, we found that children and young people are often disproportionally experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Young cancer patients are also facing additional pressures and worries caused by the cost-of-living crisis.

“The government must make sure that mental health support is accessible, equitable and personalised for all service users.”

Read our letter to the Shadow Minister for Mental Health

And our submission to the ten-year plan