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Adult Mental Health Services

Volume 457: debated on Monday 19 February 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what national guidance is given to adult mental health services on young people who have left care who ask for support. (116476)

I have been asked to reply.

No national guidance has been issued to adult mental health services specifically about young people who have left care. Access to mental health services is based on each patient’s clinical need as determined by clinicians. All people who are eligible for treatment under the national health service should be able to access mental health services in primary care and, following referral by a primary care practitioner, in secondary care.

Once care leavers reach the age of 18, they then have the same entitlements to mainstream services, including age-appropriate mental health services, as other young people who have not been in care. It is their personal adviser's role to assist them to access any necessary support.