https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/children-mental-health-decline-future-minds-b2908759.html

Interesting and concerning article in the Independent by Ella Pickover regarding the reported decline in children's mental health. The article suggests factors in this decline as well as observing the wider affects of it eg disruption to education, limiting employment prospects, undermining self esteem and confidence and leading to depression and anxiety.

A thorough assessment of a child's developmental history, the parenting environment, parent's own childhoods and consideration to patterns of emotional and mental health challenges can be the start of change and recovery. My experience of delivering these assessments is that parents have always said they have opened their eyes to issues they had not entirely understood, previously, and given them a roadmap to start to make positive changes. Sometimes this is all that families need and 1:1 treatment with a child or young person is not then necessary.