What are the options for schools?

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The number of young people in contact with mental health services in England increased by nearly a third (29 per cent) to 305,802 in February 2021, from 237,088 in March 2020, according to latest figures, while it is estimated that 1.5 million children and young people will need support for their mental health as a direct result of the pandemic over the next three to five years.

The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, says the Government should use the Spending Review to invest at least £100 million per year into rolling out school-based counselling to all state funded secondary schools and academies, which would ensure access to a school counsellor for at least two days a week for more than 90 per cent of schools. This would complement the existing roll-out of mental health support teams in schools.

Three-quarters of mental health problems first emerge before the age of 24, so it makes sense economically to invest in mental health support for young people, as well as making a huge difference to people’s lives. 

Furthermore, there is increasing evidence of the impact of investing in prevention measures to tackle mental illness, with some estimated to generate savings in public expenditure of nearly £3 for every pound spent. 

The LGA says that prevention activity work, such as making school-based counselling available to all children, would help reduce the estimated £119 billion annual cost of mental health problems in England.

During COVID-19, councils have worked with partners to quickly offer mental health support in different ways and respond to new needs that arose from the pandemic. The LGA says the Spending Review offers an opportunity to give greater recognition to the role of local government in supporting the NHS Long Term Plan’s mental health goals for people with severe and enduring mental health needs.

It is calling for sustainable funding for local government statutory and non-statutory mental health services to put them on an equal footing with NHS clinical mental health services, and to meet current, unmet and new demand in the community as a result of COVID-19.

The LGA is also urging government to invest £900 million in the public health grant to return it to its 2015/16 level in real terms.

Cllr Antoinette Bramble, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Wellbeing Board, said:

“Supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing underpins all aspects of the COVID-19 recovery and there is clear and positive evidence that school-based counselling can really make a difference to young people and complement the whole school approach that is being developed.  

“With reports showing increasing numbers of young people seeking mental health support during the pandemic, it is crucial that early intervention and prevention services, such as school counselling where pupils may feel more able to confide in trusted professionals, are able to help children avoid reaching crisis point in the first place.

Read the full article at  LGA: Make school-based counselling available to all children to tackle rising child mental health issues | Local Government Association 

Of the respondents whose school or college offered counselling:

• 86% said it helped some students stay in education
• 66% said it helped reduce school or college refusal
• 74% said it helped improve attendance
• 73% said it helped improve behaviour
• 72% said it helped improve academic attainment

"It enables children to talk independently from home and school in a secure and safe place."

"Easy access, far shorter waiting lists."

"It provides a really accessible service to vulnerable students. It has been excellent in providing extra tailored support that pastoral staff would be unable to offer."

"Early intervention is always best and preventative rather than reactive is more desirable - if we act now it can help to prevent a future mental health crisis later on."

Of those respondents whose school or college offered counselling:

• 92% said it contributes to the school's pastoral and nurturing ethos
• 66% said it allows teachers to focus more on teaching
• 72% said it eases the workload of pastoral care staff
• 75% said they would refer students to the school counsellor 

"We've had counselling provision in our school for close to 20 years.  It’s an integral part of what we do. Students are used to that support being available.  

"I strongly believe having easily accessible counselling available in school supports good mental wellbeing. It helps more students continue to access school who might otherwise school refuse or opt for elective home education. Good mental health supports good progress in lessons."

Simon Grieves, headteacher, Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, Derbyshire

Of all respondents from schools and colleges:

• 73% said their school offered in-house counselling on site
• 89% said children and young people’s education is suffering due to lack of mental health support
• 64% don’t feel their school offers students enough mental health support
• 96% agreed students should have access to counselling before issues become critical

"It’s horrifying to see the impact that lack of mental health support is having on children and young people's lives, education and future prospects. While it’s good to see 73% of secondary schools offer in-house counselling, that still leaves more than a quarter of schools – and millions of young people across the country – without access to a school counsellor."

Jo Holmes, BACP Children, Young People and Families Lead

Of those whose schools fund counselling:

• 44% said the money comes from pupil premium, 22% from COVID catch-up premium and 13% from capital funding

Of those whose schools offer counselling but don’t fund it:

• 17% said the money comes from the third sector, 14% from clinical commissioning groups and 14% from Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) funding

Access the BACP Counselling in Schools Survey here  Results of the 2022 BACP school counselling survey