The Education Committee, and Health and Social Care Committee have launched a joint inquiry into children and young people’s mental health, focusing on support available from early years through to age 25.

MPs will examine what provision exists in schools, colleges, universities, community settings and health services, and how well this support connects with NHS provision, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The inquiry will also consider support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The committees will explore whether reforms to CAMHS could improve access to care and assess the role of community-based services, including the government’s proposed Young Futures Hubs. They will also investigate what is driving rising levels of need among young people.

NHS data published in 2023 suggests around one in five 8- to 25-year-olds has a probable mental disorder. MPs will consider how this demand is affecting both health services and education settings, where staff are increasingly supporting pupils with complex needs.

The inquiry will scrutinise the rollout of government commitments, including plans to expand Mental Health Support Teams to all schools in England by 2029/30. It will also assess how policies align across departments, including the 10 Year Health Plan, the Independent Review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism and the National Youth Strategy.

MPs will further examine the role of education staff in supporting mental health and whether current frameworks from Ofsted and Department for Education guidance enable or hinder effective provision.

Helen Hayes MP, chair of the Education Committee, said the inquiry would take a “forensic look” at services from ages zero to 25 and consider whether teachers have the training they need to support pupils effectively.

Layla Moran MP, chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said families often face a fragmented system, with services “overwhelmed and not joined up” and support arriving too late. She said the inquiry would revisit concerns about prevention and early intervention and seek practical solutions to improve coordination between health and education.

The committees are inviting written evidence as they begin their investigation. Discover more on UK Parliament website.