Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help provide mental health support in schools for young people suffering from eating disorders.
Answered by David Johnston
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
Having an eating disorder can often be devastating for young people suffering with the condition, as well as for those around them, which is why the department wants to ensure they have access to the right support, in the right place and at the right time.
Schools play a vital role in children’s mental health by promoting wellbeing and providing early targeted support and the department is committed to helping them do so effectively.
The department’s statutory health education curriculum, which should be taught in all schools from primary, includes a strong focus on mental health. This includes teaching pupils how to identify the early signs of mental wellbeing concerns and where and how to seek support if they are worried about their own or someone else’s mental health. As part of the secondary health curriculum, schools can teach pupils how to be safe and healthy and manage their lives in a positive way, seeking support when needed. They can also teach about eating disorders, drawing on qualified support or advice as needed for this specialist area. The statutory guidance for relationships, sex and health education is currently under review. The department will be carrying out a full public consultation on the new guidance as soon as possible, and will be considering what more the department can do to strengthen content on eating disorders.
Early intervention is key when a child or young person is experiencing a mental health issue, including problems with eating. To expand access to early mental health support, including supporting schools in liaising with specialist services regarding eating disorders, the department is continuing to roll out Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) to schools and colleges. As of April 2024, MHSTs now cover 44% of pupils in schools and learners in further education in England. The department is extending coverage of MHSTs to at least 50% of pupils and learners by the end of March 2025.
Since 2016, extra funding has also gone into children and young people's community eating disorder services every year, with £53 million per year from 2021/22, rising to £54 million in 2023/24.
Apr. 24 2024
Source Page: access-to-counsellors-in-secondary-schools-and-children-and-young-peoples-community-mental-health-services-summary-reportsFound: access-to-counsellors-in-secondary-schools-and-children-and-young-peoples-community-mental-health-services-summary-reports
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools offer professional mental health support for pupils.
Answered by David Johnston
The mental health of children is a priority for this government and schools play a vital role in this, particularly by providing calm, safe and supportive learning environments that promote good mental wellbeing and help pupils who need it to access early targeted support.
Schools are best placed to decide what support to provide to respond to the social, emotional and mental health needs of their pupils. This can include the provision of school-based mental health professionals such as counsellors and working with external providers and, where necessary, NHS specialist services.
The requested information on schools offering professional mental health support is not collected centrally. The department collects information on staff working in state funded schools via the annual School Workforce Census, but does not directly identify mental health professionals. The results are published in the annual ‘School Workforce in England’ national statistics release, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england.
To expand access to early mental health support in schools and colleges, the department is working with NHS England to increase the number of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) working with schools and colleges. These teams include trained mental health professionals who can offer support to children experiencing common mental health problems and liaise with external specialist services to help pupils get the right support. As of April 2023, MHSTs covered 35% of pupils in schools and students in further education in England. We are expanding coverage to an estimated 44% of pupils/students by the end of this financial year and at least 50% by April 2025.
Written Evidence May. 21 2024
Inquiry: Boys’ attainment and engagement in educationFound: When schools commit to promoting a positive ethos, backed up with an on-site expert mental health
Asked by: Greer, Ross (Scottish Green Party - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the next summary report on access to counsellors in secondary schools and children and young people’s community mental health services will be published.
Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
The next summary report, for the period January to June 2023, will be published in the coming weeks at: Access to counsellors in secondary schools and children and young people’s community mental health services – summary reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .
Found: Schools (Mental Health Professionals) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 16 of 2023–24
Found: Schools (Mental Health Professionals) Bill [HL]
Dec. 17 2008
Source Page: CAMHS review. Children and young people in mind: the final report of the National CAMHS Review. 118 p.Found: Health in Schools programme Πall of which contribute to improving aspects of mental health and
Asked by: Greene, Jamie (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve mental health support in schools, in light of the Centre for Social Justice report, Drowning not Waving: Discussions with Scottish Small Charities, which states that all of the respondents to its poll "reported significant increases in mental health issues in school age children", and that the situation was described as "an epidemic".
Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
The Scottish Government takes the findings of the report very seriously. The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government.
We continue to support our local authority partners with £16 million in funding to ensure that every secondary school has access to counselling services. All school pupils aged 10 and above have access to school counselling services.
The Scottish Government has also provided guidance and professional learning for school staff to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in schools.
Finally, we are also providing local authorities with £15 million per annum to provide community-based mental health and wellbeing supports and services for children and young people, with many of these delivered through primary and secondary schools.
Asked by: Lennon, Monica (Scottish Labour - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any schools without an on-site school counsellor or a mental health practitioner.
Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
The Scottish Government continues to provide £16 million per year to ensure that all secondary schools have access to school counselling services.
Local authorities have confirmed that all secondary schools in Scotland have access to counselling services. All school pupils aged 10 and above have access to the service.
It is up to local authorities to decide how to deliver the service in their area to best suit the needs of their children and young people.
School counselling is just one of a range of services that schools and authorities have in place to support the mental health of children and young people.