SCHOOLS NorthEast has announced plans to launch the North East Schools-led  Commission on Mental Health.

The initiative, to be launched next term, will bring together school leaders and experts in a range of statutory and support bodies to provide solutions to the growing problem of mental health issues affecting schoolchildren across the North East.

Government statistics show that one in 10 children has a diagnosable mental health disorder – the equivalent of around three children in every classroom – and over half of mental health issues start by the age of 14.

At a regional level, there has been a worrying surge in the number of children and young people admitted to hospital for self-harm.

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust  CYPS (Children & Young People’s Services) community services has seen a significant rise (up to 3 times in some areas) in the numbers of referrals over the past 3 years, with the self-harm group in some areas in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear almost doubling.

The North East Schools-led Commission on Mental Health is proof of our commitment to support all schools in the Network to address this growing problem.

Starting next term, an expert panel of regional and national leaders in the fields of education, mental health and research will come together to define the issues, consider existing best practice and explore fresh solutions.

SCHOOLS NorthEast is looking for a small number of Head Teachers to join the Commission, particularly school leaders who are actively involved in initiatives focussed in this area. Evidence from a wealth of sources will be considered and the Commission will culminate in a report that will have defined actions that are adoptable by schools and other relevant bodies.

SCHOOLS NorthEast Director Mike Parker announced the plans at the Summit yesterday, saying: “This will not be about re-inventing the wheel, it is about how we get that wheel turning more efficiently.

“We are under no illusions as to the magnitude of the issue and the difficulties in successfully addressing the problem. But, unless we start now to create a coherent and adoptable approach, these issues will only get worse.Two Summit sessions were dedicated to addressing pupils’ mental health issues. The audience heard from Mick Atkinson, Vice Chair of Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, Tom Rose, Head of Secondary School Development at Place2Be, Simon Marshall, Head Teacher at Highfield Community Primary School, Sue Baillie, Pastoral Director at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle and SCHOOLS NorthEast Trustee Bernard Trafford.

While Ms Baillie made a call for support to be readily available in schools so pupils don’t wait for weeks to receive professional help, Mr Trafford told Summit delegates of the pressures on children that are amplified by the digital age we live in, saying: “We have been afraid to talk about mental health issues as a country. We just need to get real!”