CHILDREN with mental health problems are to benefit from more than £180,000 of Government money.

The money awarded to Middlesbrough Borough Council and the Tees and North East Yorkshire Health Authorities will extend the help given to disturbed youngsters and their carers.

In order to get the funds the council and health authorities joined forces to draw up a plan for the future of mental health services for children and young people in the area.

Among projects funded by the money will be more clinical time for children and their carers and a community psychiatric nurse for the family and adolescent support team.

In a report to Middlesbrough council, the corporate director of social services, Glenys Jones, said: "There is substantial evidence to suggest that the mental health needs of children and young people are not being speedily and appropriately addressed.

"One of the consequences of this shortfall in provision has been a lack of stability in the placements of children looked after.

"The inadequate level of support, advice and guidance made available to foster carers and residential workers, to help them manage the emotional and psychological needs of children, frequently leads to placement breakdowns.

"This, in turn, leads to children's difficulties being compounded as they move from placement to placement."

More than £30,000 of the money will be used to develop the child and adolescent mental health services in Middlesbrough, and more than £155,000 was awarded to Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust for existing services across Teesside.