Children and young people’s mental health
Strong support for children and families makes a big difference to lifelong health. Many parents told us they struggled to find help, and young people said waiting for CAMHS was stressful and isolating. We are working with NHS trusts, councils and community partners to improve support and make services easier to navigate.
What we’re working on
Improving the CAMHS waiting experience – creating digital tools like myHealthE with welcome videos, resources and updates for families while they wait
Publishing waiting times – working with south London trusts to make CAMHS waiting times clear and accessible online
Peer-to-peer parent support – funding and developing parent-led programmes like Being a Dad, Mindful Mamas and Parent Action’s Upskilling course
Better communication with families – working with communities and CAMHS teams to co-design resources like referral infographics and borough-based support guides
Future projects – developing new approaches, like the EarlyBIRDS partnership with King’s College London, to test interventions for young people aged 16–19
Our priorities
Make sure every family has clear, practical information while waiting for CAMHS
Expand peer-led parent programmes across south London
Strengthen direct engagement between CAMHS teams and local communities
Develop innovative, community-based models of support for young people
Latest updates
