Our response to increased government funding for children and young people’s mental health

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the Department for Education has announced a further £7 million for schools and colleges to train a Senior Mental Health Lead, bringing the total amount of funding for 2022/23 to £10 million.

Aidan Jones, Chief Executive at relationships charity, Relate, which provides counselling in schools across England, said:

"We welcome the Government’s announcement of a further £7 million to create more Senior Mental Health Leads in schools and colleges and wholly support the ambition to create a culture of greater openness around mental health. From our work providing counselling in over 100 schools across England, we know a lot about the pressures children and young people face around issues such as bullying, body image and parental conflict. A growing body of research has also found the pandemic has had a worrying impact on young people’s wellbeing. 

“Senior Mental Health Leads promise to play a crucial role in building relationships with local health services but alongside this, targeted support for children and young people is really vital.  Experience shows us that counselling can make a positive difference to children’s lives yet while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have government-funded schools counselling services, England is lagging behind. A recent poll on behalf of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy found 82% of parents with children aged four to 17 believe counselling or psychotherapy should be freely available to all school children, throughout all schools. Relate agrees this should be a priority for the Government as it seeks to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.” 

ENDS

For all media enquiries including interviews with Aidan Jones or Relate Counsellors contact Sarah Osmik on 020 7554 2895 or sarah.osmik@relate.org.uk.  For urgent out of hours enquiries call 07875 049415.

Notes to editors:

• Relate is a registered charity number 207314
• Relate champions the importance of strong and healthy relationships for all as the basis of a thriving society.
• Relate provides impartial and non-judgmental support for people of all ages, gender identities and sexual orientations at all stages of couple, family and social relationships.
• Over 5.6 million people every year access information, support and counselling from Relate but it's clear many more would benefit from support.
• For more information visit: www.relate.org.uk.