I am open about my story I have suffered many mental health issues from a young age. such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, depression, and anxiety. I’ve had issues with self-harming and after years of isolation can now admit, I am a survivor of attempted suicide. I have spent years feeling no one could help me.

Waiting times for referrals are beyond preposterous. Even with a past emergency referral for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) I waited 3 months just to get a telephone call confirming that I was on the waiting list, and could they complete a quick assessment over the phone!

CBT is a good tool you can apply to yourself to understand why you feel how you do.

According to MIND the use of CBT is statistically proven to help people mentally stabilise and understand their problems and the vicious cycle they are mentally going through.

Young Minds claim to have evidence that mental health initiatives in schools can lead to significant improvements in children’s mental health, social and emotional skills, and reductions in classroom misbehaviour, anxiety, depression, and bullying. I strongly believe tackling mental health from the grassroots at younger ages will help all young people support each other and help decrease mental health suffrage.

The failure to tackle mental health issues within the education system is massive, it is not enough for a school to hold an occasional assembly with a few good words.

According to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) they are struggling to meet demand despite government commitments to improving services and funding. 1 in 10 children aged 5–16 years have a diagnosable mental health problem, typically 3 children in every classroom.

There is a huge discrepancy between the funding of children’s and adult’s mental health services. In 2017–18, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) spent £640 million on children and young people’s mental health services representing 6.3 per cent of the mental health budget. This is despite children making up around 20 per cent of the population. This didn’t include learning disabilities and eating disorders.

Therapists, councillors, and other mental health professionals are in short supply and the problem is getting worse. Suffering mental health or traumatic events can take a long time for recovery. Some such as those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder never recover and spend the remainder of their lives needing continued support.

To help those who have lost, or nearly lost all hope, urgent action is needed.

UKIP will promote GCSE mental health courses as an option for high school that would help people help themselves and others. GCSE mental health will help young people see how they can help each other, and the effects certain things could have on others mental health.



Jordan Gaskell

UKIP Wellbeing & Mental Health Spokesman