As we come to the start of #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, it is only fitting that we recognise the impact the events of the past year have had on school children and their mental health.
I am pleased to see the Government has put forward £17 million to train a senior mental health lead in 7,800 schools across the country, providing greater support and expert advice in education settings.
This pandemic has had a huge impact on our young people and we must make sure that their wellbeing, not just academic ability, is placed at the forefront of the recovery.
Young people have been uniquely impacted by the pandemic and lockdown, with NHS research suggesting 1 in 6 may now have a mental health problem, up from 1 in 9 in 2017.
The number of mental health support teams in schools and colleges will grow from 59 to 400 by April 2023, supporting nearly 3 million children. Mental health support teams work in a variety of ways, including enabling children to text their local mental health support team, with a health professional responding within an hour during the school day offering them advice, or providing families with tips on how to spot that the children and young people are struggling with their mental health.
The teams also help staff within schools and colleges to provide a ‘whole school approach’ to mental health and wellbeing through training sessions for parents or workshops for teachers.
