Policy digest: Mental health

The DH has identified that one in four people in the UK will be affected by a mental health condition. It has become a major policy focus in recent years, as mental health services have not received the same level of funding and attention as physical health in the past. Children's mental health services have been a concern of late. To improve these services, the DH has reviewed health visiting and school nursing services, to ensure that staff are trained to identify and support parents, children and young people with mental health problems. The DH has also launched the Child and Young People's Mental Health Taskforce which will look at ways to improve children's mental health.