Newspaper column 4 February - Children's Mental Health

The past week has seen a continued steady increase of COVID-19 vaccinations in Cornwall. Figures released last Thursday show that 6,232,584 jabs have now been given in England, with 74,192 in Cornwall, with 78.9% of people over 80 in Cornwall now having received their first jab.

These latest figures are very encouraging and a real tribute to the hard work of the amazing teams at Treliske Hospital and Primary care networks around Cornwall. All those working in the vaccine rollout are doing an amazing job and really going above and beyond every day to make sure these vaccines reach those who need them most. The opening of the mass testing centre at Stithians last week followed by another one at the Cornwall Showground this week will mean even more people will be able to get this vaccine, which will help us win the fight against this virus.

This is encouraging news, and as more people receive the vaccine and we continue to drive down cases with lockdown restrictions, I hope we will be able to return to normality later this year.

Apart from the direct impact of Covid-19 itself, there are numerous other issues that the pandemic has exacerbated, and this week, which is also Children’s Mental Health Week, I thought I would touch on the issues around this important topic.

All of our lives have been disrupted in some way due to the pandemic and this is particularly so with our children, many of whom have been unable to attend school for prolonged periods of time and see their classmates while learning in a structured environment. Those of us who have children and our trying our best to home-school, know the unique challenges that this can bring, particularly when parents are working from home at the same time.

For some children, this can all add up and put a real strain their mental health.  Feelings of isolation and withdrawal from the normal way of life can lead to increased mental health issues, a rise in depression and anxiety.

It is reported that one in 10 children aged five to 16 have a mental health condition. Most young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties are treated and supported within the community, however sometimes for those with severe mental health problems, often with accompanying high risk, require specialist inpatient care.

In 2019 I was pleased to see the Government deliver on the £11m Sowenna Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services unit, a 14 bed unit that means that children and adolescents in Cornwall have access to specialist mental health beds in the Duchy.

We have come a long way in our perception of mental health issues in recent years but there is still more to do.

Going back to my time as a Cornwall Councillor I have always worked hard to ensure issues relating to our mental health receive parity, both in how they are perceived, but also in how treatment is funded, and I will continue to work with the Government and local NHS to realise these goals.

As ever, if you need my assistance with anything then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , by telephone on 01872 229698.