Working parents need us! Don’t let mental health support go unused

At a time when children are missing school due to poor mental health and parents are struggling to access support, HR and intermediaries must highlight the support available via existing benefits.

Demand for child and adolescent mental health support continues to rise, as does the associated pressure on parents. Faced with a combination of children missing school due to mental health concerns and difficulties accessing the right support at the right time, some working parents are feeling the strain – arguably impacting their absence and presenteeism in the workplace, too.

At the same time, the provision of mental health support for children and young adults via Private Medical Insurance (PMI) has increased. So, the opportunity to ensure these valuable resources are much better understood, used and valued is significant.

New research from Vitality shows that over a quarter of children (27%) have missed school because of mental health concerns. Three in four parents (73%) regularly think about their child’s mental health, and over a third (38%) have actively sought support. However, only one in five parents (21%) know exactly where to turn.

At the same time, one in five (20%) have access to PMI but haven’t used it for mental health support. Another 22% said they don’t have PMI, but access to faster mental health support would make them consider it.

Vitality’s research found the biggest priorities for parents, in terms of children’s mental health support, are: fast access to an appointment (27%); getting the right support first time – for example, clear triage / not being passed around (25%); and knowing where to go first / having clear next steps (23%).

The backdrop: Public sector services struggling to meet demand

Mental health has moved steadily up the agenda in recent years. An estimated one in five young people (aged 8 to 25) live with a probable mental health disorder, according to UK Parliament data.

National services often report struggling to meet the demand. The number of referrals to children’s and young people’s mental health services reached a record high in March this year, alongside unprecedented waiting times.