Stop the 75p insult to Cumbria’s kids – MP

Local MP Tim Farron has started a petition calling on the Government to properly fund preventative mental health care for young people in Cumbria.

Due to cuts to the public health budget from central Government, Cumbria currently only spends £75,000 a year on tier 1 mental health preventative care. This works out at just 75p per person.

Back in 2015, the coalition Government agreed to allocate Cumbria with £25m a year for public health.

But the Conservative Government reneged on that promise, and now Cumbria only receives £18m per year - £7m less than originally promised.

Last month Tim met with Colin Cox, the Director of Public Health at Cumbria County Council, to discuss the issues that the county faces as a result of underfunding.

Tier 1 mental health intervention is provided through schools, health visitors, school nurses, GPs, helplines and websites.

Tim said: "75p is an absolute insult to every young person in Cumbria.

"Preventative mental health care is vitally important in supporting our young people in the early stages of mental health problems so that those problems don't become so severe.

"The Government need to fulfil their promise that they made to Cumbria three years ago and give us the money that our young people need and deserve to keep mentally healthy and so that we can support those who are in the early stages of experiencing mental health problems before they become severe."

To sign Tim's petition, go here.