Ending the "Postcode Lottery" of Pain: Why We Need an Urgent Inquiry into CAMHS.

Please sign the petition 'Hold a public inquiry CAMHS and NHS children’s mental health delays'.  Demand a debate in Parliament and the inquiry these children deserve.  

​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 the 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 That Fails the Most Vulnerable
​The reality on the ground is harrowing. Liberal Democrat MP for Dorking and Horley, 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."— Chris Coghlan MP  

​This is not an isolated incident. Across the country, children are being "gaslit" by a system that prioritizes clearing waiting lists over clinical safety.

​The Government's Response is Not Enough
​On December 19, 2025, the Government stated they have "no current plans to establish an inquiry." While they point to recruitment targets and pilot schemes, these "slow-motion" solutions offer no comfort to the parent of a suicidal child today. We cannot wait until 2029 for full national coverage of mental health support teams.  

​We need transparency. We need to know why risk assessments are failing, why SEND law is being bypassed by local authorities, and why thousands of children are being "robbed of an education" because they are too unwell to attend school.

​How You Can Help
​We are at a turning point. 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.

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 current policy platform demands a radical shift in how we support our young people:

​A Mental Health Professional in Every School: Moving support from distant clinics to where children spend their time, ensuring early intervention before a child reaches crisis point.  

​Walk-in Mental Health Hubs: Community-based "Young Futures Hubs" to provide immediate support without the need for a GP referral.  

​Ending the Postcode Lottery: Standardising access to care and SSRI prescribing to ensure your 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, reducing the burden on cash-strapped local authorities.

​Munira Wilson MP, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, has described the current state of affairs as a "public health emergency," stating:
​"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."— Munira Wilson MP


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