YOUNG MINDS

Early day motion 157, tabled 8 January 2001 by Helen Clark (Labour). Signed by 100 members.

That this House recognises that as many as 20 per cent. of all children, about 2.5 million, are experiencing mental health problems serious enough to require extra help over and above what their families alone can provide and that around 10 per cent. of five to 15 year olds in Great Britain suffer some type of diagnosable mental disorder; welcomes the manifesto proposals of the charity Young Minds to improve services for such young people and support for their families and schools; calls attention to the complex factors and new developments in relevant scientific fields which may add to understanding young people; and calls on the Government to consider the need for a national strategy which integrates prevention, promotion and treatment approaches to support the mental health of children and young people.

Signatures by party: Labour 70, Liberal Democrat 18, Labour/Co-operative 5, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 2, UUP 1, Unknown 1.