Child mental health

We must work together to improve children's mental health - to put resources into early intervention and prevention, building resilience and ensuring our workforce is trained to spot the signs of mental ill health and equipped to refer and support children.

Why we have a mental health section

Mental health and the NHS

We know that half of all mental health problems have been established by the age of 14 and 75% by age 24. We have submitted evidence to NHS England on how mental health should be considered within the long term plan.

Read College submission

What changes do we want to see?

Mental health problems not only cause distress but can also be associated with significant problems in other aspects of life and affect life chances. We want to see a regular national survey and promotion of educational resources.

Making mental health a priority

With the Royal Colleges of GPs (RCGP) and Psychiatrists (RCPsych), we have committed to five principles that we hope lead to tangible actions to improve the care and support of children and young people with mental health problems.

Latest news

All news related to mental health

News

We must join forces to create integrated physical and mental health teams

6 March 2020

Mental health and wellbeing have entered the collective conscience of paediatric medicine, with widespread speculation that social media use and rising academic stress are among the many new challenges impacting this generation of children and young people.

Community services

News

RCPCH Scotland responds to the Scottish Health Survey 2018

25 September 2019

The Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) provides a detailed picture of the health of the Scottish population in private households and is designed to make a major contribution to the monitoring of health in Scotland. RCPCH Officer for Scotland, Professor Steve Turner, responds.

News

Some positive action, but more needs to be done to improve Scotland’s child health

4 September 2019

Responding to today’s Programme for Government, RCPCH Scotland highlighted the mixed bag offered by Scottish Government for Scotland’s children. RCPCH Scotland welcomed the actions being taken on air pollution, child poverty, early year’s mental health and disability assistance.

Respiratory medicine

The Young People's Pocketbook for doctors

Doctor's pocketbook

Our summer intern, Papia (age 17) created a pocketbook to show healthcare professionals young people's expectations of how they wish their doctor’s consultations to be.

Print the pocketbook now

Chatterbox game on wellbeing

Based on the classic children's game, this game provides ‘Facts vs Myths’ surrounding the subject of mental health, which can enable a teacher/healthcare professional to facilitate a discussion regarding this issue

Use the chatterbox now

Emoji card game

This game, designed by Amina (aged 17) one of our Summer 2017 interns, enables a young person to pick the emoji cards that best represent how they are feeling, prompt them to discuss the topic and find out more information.

Free online mental health resources

MindEd is an online learning and advice resource for anyone interested in, or concerned about, the mental health of children and teenagers. Developed in partnership by experts and parents including RCPCH, it is entirely funded by the UK government, through Health Education England, and is therefore completely free and open to use.