Cllr Roy Perry responds to a report by education think tank LKMco and social enterprise Minds Ahead on what role schools should play in tackling the youth mental health crisis.
Responding to a report by education think tank LKMco and social enterprise Minds Ahead on what role schools should play in tackling the youth mental health crisis, Cllr Roy Perry, Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“If we are to tackle the crisis in children’s mental health, we need a root-and-branch overhaul of existing services. We need to develop a system that says yes, rather than no, to children when they ask for help.
“This report echoes our call for councils and schools to be given the funding to offer independent mental health counselling, as part of a school’s overall focus on children’s wellbeing, so pupils have access to support as and when they need it.
“Providing just a small proportion of the funding the Government is spending on mental health support nationally on school counselling is one way the Government can ensure every child and young person enjoys the bright future they deserve.”
Bright Futures
Helping children and young people to fulfil their potential is a key ambition of all councils, but the local services that can support them to do so are under increasing pressure.
Bright Futures is our call to properly fund the services that change children’s lives.
Notes
The LGA’s Bright Futures campaign for children and young people’s mental health is calling for services that change children’s lives to be properly funded, so that all children and young people can have the bright future they deserve. For more information visit www.local.gov.uk/about/campaigns/bright-futures.