ASCL response to report on children’s mental health

Commenting on the report of the Children’s Commissioner ‘The state of children’s mental health services’, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“Schools must be able to refer pupils with serious mental health needs to specialist NHS services with confidence that they will be seen and treated quickly.

“However, this report reflects our concern that access to these services is still far too variable with waiting times often too long and thresholds for treatment too high.

“Services may be improving but the rate of progress is slow, patchy and inadequate. The crisis is now.

“We welcome the introduction of new mental health support teams to support in-school counselling services.

“But it is vital that children who need specialist support are able to access this treatment as quickly as possible.”