The UK is in the throes of a mental health crisis and the young and those in financial poverty are at greatest risk. One in four 17- to 19-year-olds have a probable mental health disorder and rates of mental health difficulties in children aged seven to 16 have risen by 49 per cent over the last five years.
Traditional avenues of support are facing additional pressure in the wake of the pandemic and are struggling to meet demand. Nearly a quarter of people must wait more than 12 weeks to start treatment because of the lack of mental health professionals, with six per cent facing a wait of more than a year. The number of people waiting for community mental health care has risen to 1.2 million and their conditions are often exacerbated by the delay in treatment.
