Breaking Barriers: Ensuring Fair Mental Health Support for Vulnerable Children

At Jaskulla Mentoring, we believe in nurturing potential, particularly in those who are most at risk. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background. However, new research by the University of Cambridge and the National Children’s Bureau reveals a concerning reality—children from vulnerable backgrounds are systematically denied access to mental health support. This is an issue that requires immediate attention.

The research, which analysed thousands of records from NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in London, presents a stark picture. Children from the most deprived areas are twice as likely to be turned away from mental health services compared to their more privileged peers. For children involved with social services, the situation is even more alarming—they are over three times as likely to be rejected.

This news (from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c049zqprvdlo) is distressing because these children are often the ones who need support the most. At Jaskulla Mentoring, we regularly work with young people in challenging circumstances and understand how crucial timely intervention can be. Mental health forms the foundation for so much else: academic achievement, emotional resilience, and the ability to build healthy relationships. When access to care is blocked, these children face continued hardship.

The study also found that while children under child protection plans are more likely to be turned away from CAMHS, children in foster care are an exception. Experts suggest this may be because CAMHS often requires children to be in a "stable place" before they can receive therapeutic support. While this might seem reasonable at first glance, it points to a deeper systemic problem.

At Jaskulla Mentoring, we strongly believe that waiting for "stability" before offering mental health care is both unjust and counterproductive. Vulnerable children—those living in chaotic or unstable environments—are precisely the ones who need intervention. The assumption that a child must be in a stable situation before benefitting from therapeutic work overlooks the internal struggles they are already facing.

As the report rightly points out, excluding these children due to a lack of stability is inherently unfair. Many will never experience the level of stability deemed necessary by these services—should they simply be left without support? Of course not.

This is where bold action is needed. Schools, government bodies, and mental health services must work together to create a system that does not leave gaps for the most vulnerable to fall through. It starts with acknowledging that the current system, whether intentionally or not, discriminates against these children. Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of the National Children’s Bureau, calls for the urgent removal of these "systemic biases."

So, what can we do to address this?

1. Tailoring Mental Health Services to Meet Vulnerable Children Where They Are

Mental health services must be adaptable and responsive to the specific needs of vulnerable children. We need to move away from the idea that stability is a prerequisite for mental health support. Instead, mental health services should be offered alongside a child’s journey towards stability. At Jaskulla Mentoring, we adopt a personalised approach, meeting young people where they are rather than imposing rigid standards.

2. Raising Awareness and Advocacy

It’s essential that families, educators, and community leaders speak out against these injustices. Only through shared dialogue and heightened awareness can we challenge and change a system that, as Professor Robbie Duschinsky notes, is unsurprising to those who experience it but should be shocking to everyone else. By raising awareness, we can advocate for reforms in the mental health system.

3. Collaboration Between Systems

Schools, social services, and healthcare providers must work together to identify at-risk children and ensure they receive the support they need. At Jaskulla Mentoring, we believe in the power of collaboration, and our programmes reflect this by fostering partnerships that support the whole child, academically, emotionally, and socially.

4. Building Strong Support Networks

For children living in unstable environments, a strong support network is critical. Mentoring programmes like ours can help bridge the gaps left by overstretched social services. Mentors provide stable, consistent relationships that help build resilience in young people, which is especially important when other aspects of their lives are uncertain.

5. Policy Change and Adequate Funding

Long-term solutions require systemic reform and increased funding. The barriers preventing vulnerable children from accessing mental health services are rooted in the structures of the system itself. The government must prioritise mental health services for children, ensuring they are adequately funded and that no child is left behind.

At Jaskulla Mentoring, we are dedicated to empowering young people to reach their full potential, regardless of the challenges they face. We stand with those calling for change, for a system that prioritises the mental health and wellbeing of every child—especially the most vulnerable. The inequalities highlighted by this research are not just numbers on a page; they represent real children, real futures, and real potential that is at risk of being lost.

Now is the time to take action—to break down these barriers and ensure mental health support is accessible to all. We urge decision-makers to listen to the voices of vulnerable children and their families and to recognise the urgency of the situation. Together, we can build a system that supports every child’s mental health journey, regardless of their background.

At Jaskulla Mentoring, we provide hope, stability, and encouragement for children and young people from all walks of life. If you share our mission and want to learn more or get involved, reach out today. Together, we can make a difference and change lives.