A campaign to get better mental health services for young people has been launched by a regional daily.

The North West Evening Mail began its Healthy Young Minds initiative after a three-day series of reports which exposed major flaws in the levels of care for youngsters on its patch.

The two-pronged campaign calls for a change to funding formulas so the under-pressure local service can begin to improve and demands better access to mental health services for young people.

It also seeks to raise awareness and offer practical advice to young people and their parents who are being affected by mental health issues.

The campaign, which is being run by health reporter Caroline Barber and senior reporter Jonathan Robinson, is backed by the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust which is responsible for Cumbria’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs).

It has already won support from its local MPs and the National Autistic Society, as revealed in Thursday’s paper, pictured above.

Editor James Higgins said: “It has become very clear over the last few months that there is a disproportionate number of youngsters in our area who suffer from mental health issues and the local partnership trust charged with catering for them is unable to cope.

“By highlighting the issues in the first instance, then working with the trust in a bid to bring about positive change, we believe we can make a difference.”

The campaign was launched with a front page story on Tuesday 28 July, pictured below.

The Barrow-based daily also plans to organise a roadshow which will visit every secondary school on its patch, at which mental health problems affecting young people will be discussed.

An information pack will also be produced in print and digital format, which will be aimed at parents and will help them to spot the early warning signs associated with many mental health conditions.

Said Jonathan: “Some of the stories and case studies which we have uncovered have been truly horrific, with parents in some cases literally leaving Cumbria so their child can get the support they need.

“There have been various warnings about the lives of children with autism and mental health problems being put at risk and, as a newspaper, we had to act to expose this situation and push for change.”

Caroline added: “Many parents had approached us in desperation after finding the area’s Camhs service was overstretched and waiting times for appointments with specialists were long.

“We hope this campaign will help improve access to the help required for these families and others like them – and bring long term change to help safeguard the future of children and young people during an extremely vulnerable time in their life.”