Mental health services letting down young people - Gidley

9.37.49pm GMT Wed 17th Jan 2007

Commenting on today's YoungMind report on the treatment of young people with mental health problems, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley MP said:

"This report will make shocking reading for parents all over the country.

"Children need a stable and secure environment to flourish - with specially trained staff to provide emotional, as well as medical, support. Adult wards will not provide this.

"Spells in prison cells are an outrageous breach of their human rights.

"If the Government does not act now to end this erosion of child mental health services, we are putting a whole generation of young people at risk."

Applicability: this item refers to England and Wales. Due to devolution, detailed policy may be different in other areas of the UK.