James met with campaigners from leading mental health charity YoungMinds in Parliament recently, to hear about the importance of speeding up waiting times for young people accessing mental health support.
According to a YoungMinds survey conducted last summer, over a quarter of young people have tried to end their lives while waiting for mental health support, whilst 40% have had to wait over a month for support.
The #EndTheWait campaign is calling for young people to be seen by NHS services within four weeks of a referral, as well as an early support hub in every community and more funding to support schools’ mental health provision for their students.
“As someone who’s had long advocated for mental health to be given parity of esteem with physical health, I know how important it is that young people are seen as quickly as possible following a referral", said James. "I had the opportunity to meet with young people in parliament who shared their experiences with me, and that’s why I’m supporting the #EndThewait campaign.
“I chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Mental health in my first term as an MP, and I’ll always fight to secure better mental health support where I can across all ages.”
Tom Madders, Co-CEO and Director of Campaigns at YoungMinds, added: “We’re delighted to have the support of James for our #EndTheWait campaign. Right now, there is an escalating mental health crisis for children and young people, with record numbers reaching out for support and services not able to keep up with demand.
“We know how devastating it can be when you don’t get the help you need for your mental health – many young people end up in crisis before they get any treatment. It's vital young people’s voices are heard which is why we brought them to Parliament yesterday. By supporting #EndTheWait, MPs are calling for access to early mental health support, better support in schools and services that can meet demand.”
