THE government must provide more support to children suffering from mental health problems, including funding for local and regional services, a campaigning expert has warned.

Last week, NHS England data revealed that in 2022 there was a 39 per cent rise in referrals for mental health treatment for those under 18, including for depression and eating disorders, taking the total to more than a million.

Speaking to the Morning Star, counsellor and mental health activist Lily-Jo said: “We are now seeing the fallout of the mental health impact of a global pandemic, particularly when we take into account that mental health services were much less accessible during 2020-21.”

There has also been an increase in mental health awareness, leading to earlier recognition and intervention, and a rise in external pressures such as the cost-of-living crisis, said Lily-Jo, who has founded a project bearing her name.

Almost a third of Britain’s children are worried about their family having enough money to live comfortably, according to Action for Children.

The Lily Jo Project, which aims to empower parents to talk to their children about mental health, began because Lily-Jo felt that there was a lack of education on mental health and a stigma is schools, she said.

“We have been running for seven years and have seen changes in how mental health is addressed in the school curriculum, but we still see that there is room for improvement,” she said.

“We see the need for more funding to local and regional mental health services dedicated to supporting the unique needs of children and young people.”

Lily-Jo’s book Talking to Children about Mental Health will be published on January 19 and can be ordered in advance.