Young People: Mental Health Services

(asked on 1st June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that young people receive mental health support (a) as they return to school and (b) in the event that they are not able to return to school at the same time as their peers.


Answered by
Vicky Ford Portrait
Vicky Ford
This question was answered on 9th June 2020

The government remains committed to promoting and supporting the mental health of children and young people. Access to mental health support is more important than ever during the COVID-19 outbreak. NHS services remain open and leading mental health charities are being supported to deliver additional services through the £5 million Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund. The NHS is also setting up 24/7 open access telephone lines for urgent mental health support for people of all ages.

The return to school will in itself be part of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils as attendance enables social interaction with peers, carers and teachers. Pupil wellbeing is an important consideration within our guidance on actions for educational and childcare settings as they prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020, which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020.

It is also included as a specific theme in the planning framework the department has issued, which is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020/opening-schools-for-more-children-and-young-people-initial-planning-framework-for-schools-in-england.

We are working with the Department of Health and Social Care to put in place further specific support. This includes training for teachers, such as a new module developed with clinical experts on how to teach about mental health in health education https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-mental-wellbeing

as well advice seminars, £750k of funding to three organisations extend support and advice to schools on tackling bullying, and grants to the Education Support Partnership and Timewise to support teachers’ mental health and flexible working.

Where children do not return, schools can continue to support their mental wellbeing.

Public Health England and Health Education England have developed advice and guidance for parents and professionals on supporting children and young people's mental health and wellbeing, which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing.

The department has signposted resources on supporting and promoting mental wellbeing among the list of resources to help children to learn at home. BBC Bitesize have worked with the department to provide content with substantial focus on mental health, wellbeing and pastoral care, which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources.

The department is also working across government to consider what further resources and support including bereavement support might be appropriate to support children and young people during this outbreak.

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