Benefits system holds key to childhood poverty and mental health

Charities call on government to deliver on its manifesto pledge of a comprehensive and effective child poverty strategy, in tandem with a cross-government mental health plan

The government must overhaul the benefits system to tackle poverty and boost children’s mental health, according to a new report from the Centre for Mental Health, Save the Children UK and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. 

The report, A dual crisis says that living in poverty is having a “devastating” impact on children’s mental health across the UK. It finds that inadequate levels of benefits and the use of sanctions are driving family poverty and damaging the mental health of both parents and children. 

A dual crisis, which refers to poverty and mental ill health, is based on research with parents and children, and notes that the number of children living in poverty has risen sharply to 4.3 million, alongside worrying rises in rates of mental health difficulties – one in five children and young people aged eight to 25 now has a diagnosable mental health problem in the UK. 

Amy Whitelock Gibbs, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition said: “It is no coincidence that rates of mental health difficulties in children and young people and rates of child poverty have risen in tandem over recent years and are now both at their highest levels in a decade.”

Existing evidence shows that the poorest children are four times more likely to have mental health difficulties than the wealthiest by the age of 11. Taking action to lift families out of poverty could help to reduce levels of mental distress, and improve mental health for children and their parents. 

The report calls on the government to act immediately, including rolling out early support hubs in England, introducing free school meals to households receiving universal credit, implementing a school uniform price cap, and setting out an integrated workforce plan for children’s mental health.

“Protecting children and families from poverty…will open the door to improved child health, preventing illness, boosting business, and strengthening communities.” 

Andy Bell, Chief Executive at the Centre for Mental Health said, “Protecting children and families from poverty and its ill effects on their lives is not just good for the economy. It’s a health intervention, and a vital one at that. For a mission-led government, it will open the door to improved child health, preventing illness, boosting business, and strengthening communities.” 

The charities are calling on the government to deliver on its manifesto pledge of a comprehensive and effective child poverty strategy, and for it to go hand-in-hand with a cross-government mental health plan. They welcome the government’s manifesto promise to put a mental health professional in every school but warn that without decisive action to eradicate child poverty, including ending the two-child benefits limit, more children will experience avoidable harm and distress.  

Cllr Pete Marland, Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board said, “The most effective way to support low-income households is through an adequately resourced national safety net and sustainable long-term funding for vital council services, such as advice services, local welfare assistance, housing and employment support.”

Priya Edwards, Policy and Advocacy Advisor at Save the Children UK added that the government should take “immediate action” to support the most vulnerable families by introducing a ’child lock’. “This would lock social security entitlements each year by average earnings or inflation, whichever of the two is higher. Parents would get greater financial stability, easing the stress and anxiety of financial hardship for the entire family.”