New data from Scottish Labour shows that there is a ‘postcode lottery’ of mental health support in schools across Scotland
NEW FIGURES have prompted concerns of a “postcode lottery” on mental health support available to pupils across Scotland.
Findings revealed under a Freedom of Information (FoI) request from Scottish Labour found that a majority of local authorities or health boards either do not employ a mental health link worker or hold any information on the role.
According to Scottish Labour, the findings revealed that there is a “postcode lottery” on mental health support for school pupils despite claims by the Scottish Government that there is “a mental health link worker is available to every school”.
Scottish Labour’s inequalities spokesperson, Monica Lennon, said: “The SNP claims that every school has access to a mental health link worker, but there is utter confusion over what this role looks like in practice and who is supposed to fulfil it.
Data from Scottish Labour found that 14 councils in Scotland do not employ a mental health link worker in school, and a further 12 councils do not hold information about the role.
“A majority of councils in Scotland have revealed they either don’t have a mental health link worker or don’t hold information on it. How can we trust SNP ministers when they claim to support is in place when education authorities and health boards say that it’s not?
“If schools don’t hold information on who is supposed to be their mental health link worker, children and young people are simply missing out. “
Data from Scottish Labour found that 14 councils in Scotland do not employ a mental health link worker in school, and a further 12 councils do not hold information about the role.
Only six out of the 14 NHS health boards confirmed that they do not employ someone in the role.
“If schools don’t hold information on who is supposed to be their mental health link worker, children and young people are simply missing out.“ Monica Lennon
Lennon added: “There is a crisis in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), with thousands of children waiting several months for treatment – often, in the end, only to be turned away. If young people get early support, we know a mental health problem can avoid becoming a crisis.
“That’s why Labour has a plan for school-based counselling, supported by children’s organisations that would give our young people access to support when they require it.
“SNP ministers must act urgently to explain what support exists and that they will give serious consideration to putting our school counselling plan in place.”
Scottish Labour is calling for guaranteed access for every secondary school to a qualified and experienced school counsellor, which is supported by children’s charities like Barnardo’s Scotland.
The key role of a mental health link worker is to provide support, education and problem-solving to a number of schools via the local authority or local health boards area. This entails helping schools with assessments and management of the most common mental health problems.
“Our new mental health strategy is committed to a review of personal and social education in schools to ensure every child has access to any appropriate support, counselling, or pastoral guidance they may need.” Scottish Government
The link worker also acts as a central point of contact for school staff and pupils regarding information and services that may benefit them.
But according to the Scottish Government, even though a mental health link person is available for every school to access, it is not a specific job title. The role could be carried by carried out by someone like a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) clinician, or another speciality such as a primary care worker.
Irrespective of the person carrying out the role, schools can contact a specialist CAMHS service if they are concerned about a pupil.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Local authorities and schools use a range of approaches and resources to support children and young people with their mental and emotional wellbeing in line with their obligations under the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) Act (Scotland) 2007.
“We take child and adolescent mental health very seriously and that’s why our new mental health strategy is committed to a review of personal and social education in schools to ensure every child has access to any appropriate support, counselling, or pastoral guidance they may need. And we will also be rolling out mental health training for those who support children and young people in schools.”
Picture courtesy of -JosephB-
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