A new report from a number of charities linking to children and mental health has called on the government to overhaul the benefits system.

This comes with the aim of tackling poverty and improving children’s mental health.

The report, titled A Dual Crisis, was published by the Centre for Mental Health, Save the Children UK, and the Children and the Young People’s Mental Health Coalition and outlines how living in poverty is devastating children’s mental health across the country. The main driving force behind this, according to the report, is the inadequate levels of benefits, as well as the use of sanctions.

Also discussed in the report was the state’s inability to combat the ‘dual crises’ of poverty and mental ill health leading to the call the children are being ‘failed.’ Reviewing evidence and conducting research with parents and children, the report identifies a steep rise in the number of children living in poverty – now 4.3 million – as well as concerning increases in the number of children living with mental health difficulties – now 1 in 5 people between 8 and 25.