Our neglect of young people’s mental health shows Britain has lost its capacity to care

Prince William is encouraging people to take better care of their mental health – but the kind of self-help he suggests is no substitute for the professional treatment some young people desperately need

If you’re attending an FA Cup match this weekend you’ll be treated to a short film narrated by the Duke of Cambridge urging you to look after your mental health.

Kick off will be delayed to encourage fans to “take a minute” to consider their wellbeing. Public Health England’s (PHE) Every Mind Matters, along with the Football Association and charity Heads Together’s Heads Up campaign, will show simple steps you can take to look after your mental health.

It’s a fine initiative, something deserving of the crowds’ applause. But what if self-help doesn’t do the trick? What about those who need treatment?

Earlier this week Stem4, a charity focussed on teenage mental health, released a report demonstrating that children are more often than not sent packing even if their conditions are rated as “severe”.

A UK-wide survey of 994 GPs, conducted between 17 and 20 December, found that despite promises of government cash and action, 90 per cent believe that mental health services for children and young people are inadequate.

Some 73 per cent said children and young people’s mental health services have deteriorated over the last 12 months. What’s more, 54 per cent of all patients aged 11-18 referred to Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMSH) – and only the most at risk get that far – are rejected for treatment. Mild to moderate symptoms? You’re on your own kiddo.

Stem4 is trying to address the issue as best it can. It has designed a number of apps that can assist with the self-help the Duke is urging. There’s Clear Fear for those dealing with the symptoms of anxiety. Calm Harm offers steps by which people can manage the urge to self-harm. Combined Minds provides practical strategies for families and friends to support teenage mental health.

These are laudable efforts and the results, I’m told, are very encouraging. But the charity says they are not, and should not be, a substitute for the treatment some young people desperately need and typically have to wait months for, even if they are among the relatively lucky (that word really isn’t appropriate) minority to be accepted by CAMHS.

Some 43 per cent of the GPs surveyed recommended that parents seek private treatment if possible. Trouble is, that doesn’t come cheap so isn’t an option for everyone.

Even for those with the means to access it in what’s increasingly coming to resemble a two-tier system, the private sector is something of a minefield to navigate.

For those without the means, the net result is that these conditions go untreated and, as with any medical condition, that leads to deterioration. Conditions become more complex and difficult to treat in the absence of early intervention. Your mild to moderate can quite quickly become severe.

Morally, this is a disgrace. Reading the report, I was left with the nagging feeling that this country has simply lost its capacity to care.

Those sufficiently cold-blooded to be unmoved by that might like to consider the financial case, which is all that seems to get the attention of government.

Severe mental health issues are not only harder to treat than the mild to moderate ones they frequently develop from, they are also very much more expensive.

It’s worth noting that Britain’s jails are filled with people with serious untreated mental health issues and the cost of keeping people locked up is positively ruinous.

I’m aware that demands for more resources come from every which way.

But here is a place where an injection of funds combined with a change in approach – namely an end to a default answer of “no” to any request for help – could ultimately save money.

It’s a reflection not only of the callousness of ministers, but also of their stupidity that they seem unable to grasp this.

The Duke has a father who is known to be fond of writing letters to them. Perhaps he might inveigle upon Prince Charles to tackle this subject in his next missive.