New year cash boost for children’s mental health welcomed

In a major boost to our Class Action campaign, the borough has been named a “trailblazer area”, with funding announced to form new mental health support teams.

Mr Healey, who teamed up with the Advertiser to call for improved counselling and support for children and young people, said: “It’s great news that Rotherham will be getting this funding.

“There’s no better place to pilot the Government’s new plans for education mental health teams.

A survey by Mr Healey of schools in his constituency uncovered increasing concerns among staff over pupils’ and students’ mental health.

“My recent report highlighted the complexity of mental health problems faced by staff and pupils on a daily basis and it is clear there is a mental health crisis in our schools,” he said.

“This support is welcome but the Government has to step up its action, which has so far been too slow and too small-scale.”

The trailblazer status given to Rotherham means NHS Rotherham Clinical Commissioning 

Group can coordinate new mental health support teams based near schools.

Staff will begin their training at seven universities in January.

There will also be funding to train senior mental health leads in schools and colleges, working towards ensure a whole-school approach to wellbeing.

A 2017 study found that one in nine young people, aged from five to 15, had a mental health condition.

Teenagers with a mental disorder are more than two and a half times more likely to struggle in adulthood.

Jackie Doyle-Price, minister for mental health, inequalities and suicide prevention, announced the funding last week.

She said: “Early intervention is crucial when it comes to mental ill-health and this announcement will ensure that young people can immediately access life-changing support when the signs of mental health issues first appear, helping to prevent these problems from escalating further into adulthood.

“Encouraging young people to think about their mental wellbeing in the same way they do their physical aches and pains is a vital part of our goal to put mental and physical health on equal footing and will help ensure no young person is left to suffer in silence.”

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national mental health director said: “There is an enormous amount of work underway to support children and young people when they experience mental health difficulties.

“Working in partnership with colleagues in education such as school nurses and educational psychologists, this will improve the mental health support and provision on offer and we look forward to seeing the results over the next few years.”