A BURNHAM-on-Sea mental health charity has said they are 'cautiously optimistic' after Prime Minister Theresa May announced her plans for reforms in the mental health system.

Burnham charity, In Charley's Memory (ICM), has cautiously welcomed plans unveiled by the PM to 'transform' attitudes to mental health with renewed focus on children and young people.

In a speech at the Charity Commission lecture on Monday (January 9), the prime minister announced plans to give additional training for teachers, an extra £15 million for community care and improved support in the workplace. 

A spokesman for In Charley's Memory said: " We are cautiously optimistic about the prime minister's plans for changes in mental health.

"We agree that work needs to be done in schools and this is something In Charley's Memory are already doing in Burnham.

"We are in the process of training our young ambassadors in mental health first aid which is what the Prime Minister wants to do. 

"In our view, more money needs to go into mental health and waiting lists desperately need to be cut.

"This needs to happen now in order to bring down suicides rates."

Jo Clements, Charley's mother and head of the charity said: "There needs to be shorter waiting lists for counselling, talking therapies, CAHMS and other services.

"I'm talking a 1-2 week turnaround from contact to first counselling or therapy session. 

"There need to be more relevant units for young people who need to stay in hospital to receive the right help so that they aren't 'homed' with other vulnerable who are much older than them.

"This is something that Peter Parks has promised will happen due to the investigation into Charley's death.

"At ICM we are regularly going into schools and educating our young people about mental health.

"The young people we see know it is ok to talk and know they are being taken seriously when they ask for help."

Mental health care and support are at the heart of the Burnham charity which was set up by Jo after her son, Charley Marks took his own life in September 2016.

Since Charley's death, Jo set up mental health charity, In Charley's Memory and has been working hard to ensure there are services available to young people in Burnham who suffer from mental health problems.