Uncertainty over the level of government funding for mental health services is a key concern in Hertfordshire, according to new research.

A review by the Hertfordshire Community Foundation found that Three Rivers is home to second most deprived area in the county – Northwick in South Oxhey.

But the director of HCF, Jonathan Aves, flagged up the importance of ensuring mental health services are properly funded.

The HCF said mental health services are “not well-funded” despite a £2million funding boost last year.

Jonathan Aves, director of HCF, said: “Today’s children are growing up in a very complex and ever changing world and evidence shows that children affected by mental health issues who are adequately supported are less likely to suffer serious mental health difficulties in the future.

“There is great work being done across Hertfordshire but a key concern is how to sustain programmes in the light of reduced and uncertain funding.”

Last year a report revealed more than 15,000 young people with mental health issues are not getting the help they need despite rising levels of self-harming.

Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Localism and Libraries, Cllr Teresa Heritage added: “We are aware that there are issues in the county that we need to work together to address and it is always helpful to highlight them in this way.

“We are just coming to the end of our awareness-raising ‘Year of mental health’, during which Hertfordshire secured a £2m investment into children’s mental health services to help us provide more robust interventions for young people.

“We take the health and wellbeing of our residents very seriously and partnership work like this helps us to engage with our private, community and voluntary sector in Hertfordshire to really target help where it is most needed.”

The wide-ranging report also revealed that there has been a 61 per cent increase in the number of old people living alone in Watford between 2001 and 2011. Most other districts saw a fall in the number.

Northwick in South Oxhey is the second most deprived area in the county, according to the HCF.

People living in parts of Chorleywood have the highest life expectancy in the county.

Jonathan Aves said: “Life expectancy is really a snapshot of a community’s wellbeing. Whilst Hertfordshire is generally thought of as a prosperous county, this masks pockets of deprivation and some of our communities face significant health, economic and social inequalities.

“This research project helps us better understand the needs and challenges within our communities so that we can improve the impact of our grant-making.”