Pledge to boost mental health support in schools

Tuesday 05th December 2017 18:47 EST
 

Children and young people in England are to be able to access mental health support at school or college under government plans to improve services.

The proposals include introducing a four-week waiting time for youngsters needing specialist support and new mental health support teams in schools.

It is hoped around one in four schools in England will have this provision in place by 2022.

Campaigners say it was welcome, but overdue and "only a start".

The issue of young people's mental health has long been of concern, with parents, charities and healthcare professionals warning that families are not getting the support they need.

According to new NHS figures, around one in 10 girls aged 16 or 17 were referred to specialist mental health services in England last year.

The government's new green paper proposes:

- training for senior designated mental health leads in schools to improve prevention work

- earlier access to services through the creation of new mental health support teams working in and directly with schools

- a new four-week waiting time for NHS children and young people's mental health services

- every primary and secondary school in England to be offered mental health awareness training

- all pupils to be taught about mental health and wellbeing as part of improved relationships education and PSHE [personal, social, health and economic] lessons

The new measures are part of a £300m investment by the Departments of Health and Education.


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