Young people waiting over six months for mental health services

Young people in Cumbria are being forced to wait over six months for mental health treatment, figures uncovered by Tim Farron show. Tim has described the figures as "shocking" and has set out a fully-funded alternative to provide millions of pounds of extra funding for local mental health services

The figures show that almost 2500 young people made use of mental health services across Cumbria in the last three years. However, last year some young people had to wait up to 27 weeks from when they were referred until they finally got treatment. On average, young people had to wait 12 weeks from referral to treatment.

This week the Lib Dems have set out plans to put a penny on income tax, which would give the NHS in Cumbria a cash boost of £40million. Last summer, Tim successfully campaigned to keep open the Kentmere mental health ward at Westmorland General Hospital, after plans were announced to close it.

Tim said: "As an MP I have dealt with thousands of pieces of casework, but the cases that keep me up at night are those where young people have been failed by our mental health services. It is shocking and unacceptable that young people in Cumbria should have to wait over six months for treatment.

"I am proud that last summer we successfully fought to keep Kendal's mental health ward open. Now I am determined that we invest the funds needed to improve our services. While the Conservatives are trying to cut £572million from our local NHS, the Lib Dems have announced a fully-costed plan to boost Cumbria's health services, including mental health, by £40million.

"Nearly two thirds of people have experienced a mental health problem, yet these figures show that there is still a long way to go before mental health is treated as seriously as physical health. This week is Mental Health Awareness week, and I am determined to take mental health seriously and make sure it is funded properly."