Commenting on the Government’s pledge of more than £17 million to
go towards upgrading mental health support in schools, Dr Patrick
Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said:
“Additional funding to train thousands of senior mental health
leads in schools is long overdue.
“The number of children with clinically significant mental health
conditions has risen year on year and by 50% compared in the last
three years alone.
“Last year saw a 35% increase in referrals to children’s mental
health services, but only a 4% increase in children actually
receiving support.
“This reality of the mental health crisis is continuing to have
profound and lasting consequences for children and young people.
“The provision of school-based counselling in every primary and
secondary school would be a good starting point.
“It must also be recognised that teachers cannot be expected to
fill the gaps caused by cuts to mental health and wellbeing
provision over the last decade.
“The Government must recognise that teachers have also been
severely impacted by the pandemic - they have served on the
frontline throughout and many are suffering mental health
problems as a direct result.
“Our research shows that more than three quarters (79%) of
teachers feel their job has adversely affected their mental
health in the last 12 months, and nearly a quarter (23%) have
sought medical help to cope.
“The Government cannot expect teachers to simply soldier on. Many
teachers are now at crisis point and threatening to leave the
profession.
“The success of education recovery depends upon the wellbeing of
teachers, and the Government must urgently set out how it intends
to support teachers’ mental health and wellbeing.”
