by In the past 18 months, I had to react to the claim that the culture of mental health has gone too far, that we overdiagnos and that we simply medically medically medically medically medically medically. I hope that the child commissioner’s report (children in England “in almost Dickensian poverty level, July 8) is a moment for everyone to think about how the” heights and depths “of life look for too many young people: without food, cold and moldy houses and not to feel safe, in the area in which they live.
There is a toxic relationship between poverty and mental health. A fact that is reinforced by the latest NHS data and shows that psychological health problems in adults are on record levels and that people are the most supported in the most supported areas.
As the report itself quotes, young people are understandably concerned about the treatment of mental health. And for good reason – 35,000 young people have been waiting for support for mental health for more than two years. Combating the waiting lists for mental health and drivers of poor mental health must now be a priority for this government.
Dr. Sarah Hughes
CEO, spirit
• Many readers have to be shocked by the report that children in Great Britain live on “almost Dickensian poverty levels”. The abolition of the two-child limit for services would get many out of poverty. The cost of this was estimated by the Resolution Foundation as 3.5 billion GBP. That may seem a lot. According to politics, 23 billion pounds are not claimed in practice every year. Why not use this money? It would benefit the children, their families and the places where they live.
Jan Pahl
Emeritus professor of social policy, University of Kent
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