Sunderland schools mental health pilot essential for tackling worsening problem
The regional education network, SCHOOLS NorthEast, backed Government plans to pilot better mental health provision for schoolchildren in Sunderland.
The Wearside city is one of 22 areas nationwide that will benefit from £3m investment by the Department for Education and NHS England to support the wellbeing of schoolchildren.
The decision follows an announcement in October by SCHOOLS NorthEast, which represents 1,250 schools in the region, that it will launch a schools-led commission into the mental health of children in the North East next term.
The commission will bring together leaders across education, health, police, local authorities and other stakeholders to develop a schools-led approach to addressing mental health.
Mike Parker, Director of SCHOOLS NorthEast, said: “Mental health is one of, if not the most pressing concerns raised by head teachers in the North East, and echoed by their counterparts in other areas of the country.
“Sunderland has seen an alarming increase in the number of referrals for self-harm and other symptoms of mental health issues by young people, a situation that sadly is seen across the region.
“Austerity and public sector funding cutbacks are biting across all services that support families and young people which will take a greater toll over time. The more we can do to support schools to help their pupils, the better. It’s important that we recognise that parents also need support, as well as school staff who are under incredible pressure in the modern education system.”