Schools warn pupils are being let down by delays to accessing mental health services

School leaders from some of the most high-profile state and independent schools in the country, including Star Academies, have warned that vulnerable children are being let down because of delays in being able to access mental health services.

The Coalition for Youth Mental Health in Schools has published a new report on how the education sector can respond to growing challenges around supporting pupils’ mental health.

The group, which published its first report in 2021 highlighting the difficulties facing young people in the wake of the pandemic, has said its calls then for urgent action have gone unanswered.

The Coalition is made up of Star Academies, Alleyn’s School, Danes Educational Trust, Eton College, Lady Eleanor Holles School, Oasis Community Learning, Reach Academy Feltham, St Paul’s School and Wellington College.

In a joint statement, the school leaders said: “Two years on, vulnerable students are still being let down by delays in the system and insufficient availability of care. And while there is a colossal effort underway in schools to tackle these challenges, there are still too many hurdles for too many pupils when it comes to accessing mental health support.

“Our new report Solutions for a Crisis gets to the heart of how schools – making the very best of what is available to them – are tackling the crisis. But while our research demonstrates how schools-based interventions can have a positive impact, we must stress that these measures should not preclude access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the community.

“The state of mental health provision in our country has reached a tipping point. We are keen that no teacher or school finds themselves unsupported when it comes to protecting their children’s mental health. We encourage the Government to address the mental health epidemic across the country, so that we can take action together so all our young people, wherever they are, can flourish.”

The latest report, called ‘Solutions for a Crisis’, highlights the good work going on in schools to support pupils, but the report’s authors warn delays in accessing child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in the community is putting a strain on education providers.

The Coalition makes several recommendations to the Government, including introducing mandatory waiting time targets so children and young people can access mental health support more quickly.

In certain instances, researchers found that pupils using in-school counselling services were pushed down CAMHS waiting lists. This puts schools in a challenging position, forcing them to decide between offering interim support or postponing it in the anticipation that the pupil might be able to access specialised assistance sooner.

Waiting times have increased by two-thirds in two years to an average of 21-weeks, as revealed by The House magazine in April following a series of freedom of information requests.

Research agency Public First organised a series of school observations sessions, expert interviews and a review of the available evidence to support the Coalition members in making its recommendations, which include calls for teacher training to incorporate mental health education, proposals to establish a national network of wellbeing supervisors and setting up a National Survey of Youth Mental Health.

Sir (Mufti) Hamid Patel CBE, Chief Executive of Star Academies said:

“Schools are doing exceptional work to support pupils who are struggling with their mental health, but there is only so much education providers can do alone. In the wake of the pandemic, waiting times are growing at the exact time when the need is greatest. There needs to be a much greater focus from Government on youth mental health services to ensure every young person has the opportunity to thrive.”

Jane Lunnon, Head at Alleyn’s School and chair of the Coalition for Youth Mental Health in Schools said:

“This is important work, and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be engaged in this work with colleagues from across the education sector committed to helping young people flourish and succeed.”

A copy of the report can be found here.

Added By: Star Academies | Date Added: 13th Dec 2023 | Posted In: Latest News