Early Support Hubs for children's mental health

The government has announced it will be opening ‘Early Support Hubs’ across the country, to help children and young people with their mental health before they get to crisis point.

The drop-in centres offer mental health support and advice to local young people who won’t need a referral by a doctor or school, and won’t need an appointment. Services provided include group work, counselling, psychological therapies, specialist advice, and signposting to information and other services.

Around 50% of mental health conditions are established by the time a child reaches the age of 14, and 75% by the age of 24. However, access to early support can prevent infants, children and young adults from developing enduring conditions that can have devastating long-term impacts on their lives and life chances, as well as the lives of their loved ones.  

The hubs are open to those aged 11-25 years old, and importantly they are for anyone who may not meet the threshold to receive NHS support. Youngsters going through the trauma of worry, anxiety or stress will have a physical space to go to when their problems first emerge.
A network of roughly sixty Early Support Hubs currently exists across the country. They are run by a range of local services including volunteer organisations, local NHS Trusts, and local authorities.