Ending the "Postcode Lottery" of Pain: Why We Needs an Urgent Inquiry into CAMHs... East Riding of Yorkshire.
Sign the Petition: Hold an inquiry into CAMHS and NHS children’s mental health delays.
For too long, the crisis in our children’s mental health services has been treated as a footnote. Behind every statistic is a child whose potential is being stifled and a family pushed to breaking point. At the heart of the Liberal Democrat mission is the belief in a "Fair Deal," where every child has the right to a healthy start in life. But right now, that deal is being systematically broken by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) that is buckling under pressure.
The Liberal Democrats are uniting behind the call for the government to hold an urgent inquiry into the failures of CAMHS and the devastating delays in NHS children's mental health support.
A System Failing the Most Vulnerable
The reality on the ground is harrowing. Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan, recently shared a chilling example of the disconnect between administrative assessments and the lived reality of families:
"One week after a twelve-year-old autistic child in Dorking attempted suicide for the second time, CAMHS wrote to their GP saying that their risk of suicide was low. NHS children’s mental health is in crisis. Families are left to fend for themselves, and children are unable to attend school – robbing them of an education."
This is not an isolated incident. Across the country, children are being "gaslit" by a system that prioritizes clearing waiting lists over clinical safety. Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking, has been a vocal advocate for families caught in this "national crisis," particularly those navigating the intersection of mental health and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
He has emphasized that the current system fails both the vulnerable and the taxpayer:
"The system that we have all inherited... fails vulnerable children and their families, and it fails taxpayers as well. Education is a right; it should not have to be fought for... There is a national crisis, whether that is in the lack of school places, support or just not keeping up with demand."— Will Forster MP
The View from East Riding
In East Riding, we are seeing some progress; services are moving closer to having a mental health practitioner in every school, and the relationship between school nurses and practitioners is stronger than ever.
However, significant gaps remain. The waiting lists for neurodiverse children in our region are alarmingly long. This is a critical failure, as many mental health issues develop or escalate while young people wait months or even years for the Neurodevelopment Service to carry out an ASD/ADHD assessment.
Furthermore, the "siloed" approach of the current government fails to recognize the reality of childhood in 2026. Children today are exposed to the world through the internet and social media far more rapidly than previous generations. We cannot treat mental health in isolation from education, youth engagement, and the digital world.
“As someone who works in the NHS, I see every day the dedication, skill and compassion of staff who are doing their absolute best in an overstretched system. But I also see the impact on families when children wait far too long for the right support, and when problems escalate while they’re waiting.
This is not about blame, it’s about being honest that demand has outpaced capacity for too long. A national inquiry would help us understand what’s going wrong, what’s working, and how we fix this properly, so children get help before they reach crisis point.” Cllr Eliza Whitaker
The Lib Dem Plan: Prevention and Parity
The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for "Parity of Esteem"—ensuring mental health is treated with the same urgency and funding as physical health. Our policy platform demands a radical shift:
A Mental Health Professional in Every School: Moving support from distant clinics to where children spend their time. This would be funded by increasing the Digital Services Tax on social media giants.
Walk-in Mental Health Hubs: Community based "Young Futures Hubs" to provide immediate support without a GP referral.
Ending the Postcode Lottery: Standardizing access to care so recovery doesn't depend on your address.
Strengthening EHCPs: Ensuring the "Health" (H) component of Education, Health, and Care Plans is fully funded and legally enforceable.
Munira Wilson MP, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Education, has described this as a "public health emergency," noting:
"I do not think it an exaggeration to call the situation a public health emergency... if we start early if we start young with proper support, some of these truly awful incidents might be prevented."
How You Can Help
On December 19, 2025, the Government stated they have "no current plans to establish an inquiry." We cannot wait until 2029 for the promised "slow-motion" solutions. We need transparency now.
We need 100,000 signatures to force a debate in Parliament and demand the inquiry these children deserve.
Sign the Petition: Hold an inquiry into CAMHS and NHS children’s mental health delays.
By signing, you are telling the Government that "more of the same" is not an option. You are standing up for the 1 in 5 children struggling with their mental health and demanding a system that protects, rather than neglects, our future generation.
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