A definite commitment to a reform of the Mental Health Act, with a schedule.

A definite commitment to a reform of the Mental Health Act, with a schedule.

The intention to reform the 1989 Mental Health Act, was mentioned in last December's Queen's Speech.

The assurance that the mental health needs of children will be at the heart of the strategy.

The assurance that the mental health needs of children will be at the heart of the strategy.

It is also vital that such reforms have statutory (as opposed to pilot or advisory) status.

Our ultimate aim is to ensure that the Charter aims are on the face of the Bill.

Our ultimate aim is to ensure that the Charter aims are on the face of the Bill.

We realise that will take longer and will be done as and when the Bill begins its progress in the House.

The Charter is Launched at Westminster

On 29th October 2019 guests packed into Westminster’s Jubilee Room for the launch of a Charter to redress the historic neglect of children within successive Mental Health Acts that have never prioritised their needs.

Campaign Manager Helen Clark, along with PTUK’s Monika Jephcott and Jeff Thomas, were delighted with the mix of politicians, guests and speakers

A General Election was announced on the same day and the subsequent comprehensive victory for Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, on 12th December 2019, meant an end to the uncertainty of the previous year. 

In the Queen’s Speech of 16th December 2019 the Prime Minister announced his intention to reform the outdated 1983 Mental Health Act.

But there was no mention of the urgent needs of children, so phase 2 of the Child Mental Health Charter Campaign began right there and then. Of course, at that point no one realised that COVID-19 was waiting round the corner, putting everything on hold, and as we come out of the enforced lockdown we look back to the launch of the Charter so that we can forge ahead with renewed enthusiasm. Post-lockdown, children need to be prioritised more than ever.

Minister for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Patient Safety, Nadine Dorries, takes questions.
Mary Glindon MP, Holly Lynch MP, Dani Worthington, Moorside Primary School; Sir David Amess MP, Monika Jephcott, Chief Executive, PTUK; Jeff Thomas, Registrar, PTUK
Steve McCabe MP with Monika Jeffcott and Jeff Thomas of Play Therapy UK, promoters of the Charter
On the left, Holly Lynch MP and Dani Worthington, Head Teacher of Moorside Primary School. On the right, Sir David Amess MP welcomes guests to the launch. Above, speaker Dr Janice D'Souza of the University of Winchester applauds the Chater's wide appeal to professionals across all tiers of Education.
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Who is driving the campaign?

In May 2018, Play Therapy UK (a leading professional organisation in children's mental health) joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group on A Fit and Healthy Childhood and contributed alongside experts from other organisations to the report 'Mental Health in Childhood'. The report identified some shortcomings in the Green Paper ‘Transforming Children's and Young People's Mental Health' and PTUK was delighted to sponsor the APPG’s further report: 'Children's Mental Health beyond the Green Paper,’ launched at Westminster on 30th January 2019. You can download these reports from the Downloads Page to see how The Child Mental Health Charter embodies the spirit and principle of both reports in an inclusive and practical way.

Since then, hundreds of organisations and nearly a thousand individuals have added their support for the Charter. You can join them by clicking below.

The Campaign Manager is Helen Clark. Please see our Contact page for details of how to contact her.

Click here to support the campaign